Artist Osman Yousefzada creates new work for Bradford, in his exhibition Where It Began.
Published May 3, 2024
Where it Began
Cartwright Hall Art Gallery
A prelude to Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture
3 May – 13 October 2024
Osman Yousefzada takes a deeply personal look at migration, identity and community in Where It Began, a special exhibition that forms part of this year’s countdown to Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
In this solo exhibition, Where it Began, artist Osman Yousefzada invites viewers to contemplate themes of labour, social class, immigration and the impact of colonialism on human bodies. The title itself serves as a metaphor that spans different timelines: from historical relationships between the British Empire and South Asia regarding textiles to Yousefzada’s father arriving in Bradford during the wave of Commonwealth migration in the 1960s to labour at Crofts Engineering foundry to concepts of belonging, identity and homemaking.
Where It Began presents work both inside and outside Cartwright Hall Art Gallery. The main hall itself will showcase the artists’ handcrafted textiles, sculptures and newly wrapped artworks. Continuing his dialogue with site-specific objects, the artist will wrap the various busts and statues at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery including a marble bust of Queen Victoria and the statue ‘Humanity Overcoming War’ (1925). Outside in Lister Park, Yousefzada is giving the statue of Diana the Huntress a new cultural life, where migrant and diasporic threads are woven into a tribute to the female.
This exhibition is an iteration of Yousefzada’s recent solo show at the V&A, What Is Seen and What Is Not, along with new works and outdoor commissions created specifically for Bradford. Where It Began is the first of several events presented by Bradford leading up to its year as the UK City of Culture in 2025.
Over the past few months, Osman Yousefzada has been working closely with Bradford-based fabricator Set Stage, to develop his wrapped works into a large-scale temporary public sculpture. This sculptural installation will envelop Diana the Huntress statue outside Cartwright Hall Gallery, which has been in situ since 1904. For the duration of Yousefzada’s show, Street Space will work alongside local residents, community organisations and businesses
to explore the intricate dynamics of social engagement within Cartwright Hall and Lister Park. Through a series of creative conversations, workshops and sessions, Street Space will co-design interventions to encourage new audiences to explore the exhibition, Lister Park and Cartwright Hall’s other galleries.
Osman Yousefzada said “To be in Bradford is to be at a second home. Where my father arrived as an immigrant to find a New Life. To recount these forgotten tales across generations of change, upheaval, struggle and resilience is an honour. ‘Where it Began’ is a celebration of this city enabling me to share narratives that unite us and through the power of storytelling we create more understanding and hopeful futures.”
Shanaz Gulzar Creative Director, Bradford 2025 said “We’re delighted to be working with Bradford Museums and Galleries to present Osman Yousafzada’s exhibition at Cartwright Hall. A teaser event for Bradford 2025 it gives a flavour of what’s to come next year; an internationally renowned artist with connections to our region, creating new work in our stunning green spaces and one of Bradford’s iconic cultural buildings.”
James Steward, Head of Bradford District Museums and Galleries stated “We are delighted to be launching this, the first of our UK City of Culture exhibitions as we countdown to what will be an ambitious and compelling public programme in 2025 for Bradford District Museums and Galleries.
Visitors will enjoy Osman Yousefzada’s reinterpretation of Cartwright Hall’s sculpture court and we will be pleased to welcome district residents back for more of our summer programme.”
Where It Began is presented in partnership between Bradford Museums and Galleries and Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. For more details about Bradford 2025, please visit bradford2025.co.uk.
ENDS