Bradford ‘Tower of Now’ sculpture unveiled on Hall Ings

Featuring odes to the Venetian Gothic architecture of City Hall, The Tower of Now can be seen on Hall Ings.

The sculpture was created by Saad Qureshi and his team of builders.

It is a full circle moment for Saad, who left Bradford to study at Oxford Brookes University two decades ago.

The grandson of a textile mill worker and former pupil at Nab Wood Grammar School left with dreams of becoming an artist.

Artist Saad Qureshi, pictured by the Tower of Now sculpture (Image: Newsquest) The Tower of Now hopes to capture Bradford’s multiculturalism and elements of beautiful architecture seen not just in the district, but across the world.

Inspiration came in the form of City Hall’s windows and bell tower, the domes of iconic buildings like the Alhambra Theatre and Bradford Live, as well as details on Hindu temples, Chinese pagodas, mosques, and synagogues. 

“It feels surreal that this has become real,” said Saad. “It has been in the making for such a long time.

“It needs to sink in what has happened. This project has completed many full circles for me – on a personal and professional level. I’m feeling excited and incredibly emotional.

Saad was inspired by City Hall’s windows and bell tower (Image: Newsquest) “In order for this work to be read in the right context, stand in the far corner, almost walk behind it so you’ve got the City Hall in the background. That’s where the work really starts coming together, you can start drawing these lines with the hall, with the bell tower, and you start seeing it in the work.

“There’s a lot of reference points. The work is really echoing the city of Bradford and celebrating the diversity of it.

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“I’m using architecture as a metaphor to stand in for people. It’s representing the communities it’s talking about. What better city than Bradford to talk about communities coming together? 

“If you look at St George’s Hall, the town hall, Bradford Live, the Alhambra, that’s a real diverse architecture style just there. Bradford is becoming this new version of exciting Britishness that, for me, only exists in Bradford.”

Artist Saad Qureshi looks up at the Tower of Now (Image: Newsquest) It comes after Saad reunited with his former art teacher, Mrs Robinson, who encouraged him to dream big and go to Bradford College of Art.

“This project completes many full circles for me,” said Saad.

“I invited her to come and see the work. She was incredibly moved by my journey, by knowing how much she had an impact on my life. It was wonderful to be able to show her that and thank her.

The Tower of Now sculpture is inspired by a variety of architectural features – including City Hall, can you see the similarities within the sculpture?  (Image: Newsquest) “Everything is doable. The fact I was this young boy growing up in Bradford, I managed to dream big and made it happen. There’s a process you’ve got to follow, patience, and just sheer belief in yourself.

“Let’s make more success stories out of Bradford.”

What did passers-by think?

Wendy and David Bentley, who have lived in Bradford for around 70 years, went up to the sculpture before taking a stroll around the new Norfolk Gardens area.

Wendy and David Bentley looking at the Tower of Now up close (Image: Newsquest) Wendy, who lives in Wyke, said: “We thought we’d come in this morning and have a look round. 

“It’s nice to see it looking so nice, I hope it stays this way.

“I just wanted to know if that [Tower of Now] was made of stone or metal.

“It’s very impressive actually. The more you look at it, the better it becomes.”

Wendy added: “It’s so nice, I hope people appreciate what they’ve got. It’s a very diverse city. There’s space for all of us. Let’s keep it that way.”

David Kaye, who grew up in the Dudley Hill area and now lives in Tyersal, said: “I’m actually on my way to Leeds. I dropped my son in at work this morning and saw this and thought I’d come have a look.

“I’m not impressed. It looks good, but to me it doesn’t represent Bradford. If that had been over there [by City Hall] it would have been better, rather than to one side.

“I think it could be displayed better especially with the cladding on that building not being finished.

“It’s interesting but it’s not my thing. I’m quite old school. I don’t particularly like it as such but it’s modern art, it’s your take on things.

“In a way it’s good for Bradford – but not my thing.”