Artist wraps up statues for new exhibition in city

All the wraps covering statues in Mr Yousefzada's exhibition at Cartwright Hall have been made locally and are temporary

Sculptures at a Bradford art gallery have been covered up by a world-renowned artist as part of a new show in the run-up to the UK City of Culture celebrations.

Osman Yousefzada's "Where it Began" exhibition is being held both inside and outside the Cartwright Hall gallery in Lister Park, Manningham.

Mr Yousefzada has temporarily wrapped various artworks, including a marble bust of Queen Victoria and a statue known as "Humanity Overcoming War".

Shanaz Gulzar, creative director for Bradford 2025, described the exhibition as "a teaser event" for a year of cultural events in the city.

"This gives a flavour of what’s to come", she added.

One of Osman Yousefzada's works covers the sculpture of Diana the Huntress in Lister Park, where Cartwright Hall is located

The exhbition at Cartwright Hall is a version of Mr Yousefzada's "What Is Seen and What Is Not" show at London's Victoria & Albert Museum in 2022.

However, it also includes commissions which have been created specifically for Bradford.

Mr Yousefzada, who is a British-Pakistani artist from Birmingham, said he had a personal link to the city.

“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."

Mr Yousefzada said the show in Bradford was "a celebration of this city".

He said it enabled him "to share narratives that unite us and through the power of storytelling we create more understanding and hopeful futures".

Osman Yousefzada said he was glad to be in Bradford as he saw the city as "a second home"

The exhibition invites viewers to contemplate themes of labour, social class, immigration, and the impact of colonialism on human bodies.

Mr Yousefzada worked closely with Bradford-based fabricator Set Stage to develop his wrapped works, which are only temporary.

Shanaz Gulzar said she was "delighted" to be working with Bradford Museums and Galleries to present Mr Yousefzada's exhibition at Cartwright Hall.

She said it was a chance to see "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".

The free exhibition is due to run until 13 October.

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