BRADFORD.- 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 Bradford Council’s Cartwright Hall Art Gallery. The main hall itself showcases the artists’ handcrafted textiles, sculptures and newly wrapped artworks. Continuing his dialogue with site-specific objects, the artist wrapped 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 envelops Diana the Huntress statue outside Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, which has been in situ since 1904. For the duration of Yousefzada’s show, Street Space will work alongside local residents through a series of creative conversations, workshops and sessions to explore the intricate dynamics of social engagement within Cartwright Hall and Lister Park.

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 District 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, Bradford District Museums and Galleries Manager, Bradford Council 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.”

“I’m sure visitors will enjoy Osman Yousefzada’s reinterpretation of Cartwright Hall’s sculpture court. We will be pleased to welcome visitors from across the district and beyond to explore our summer programme, not just at Cartwright Hall but also at our other venues across the district.”