Wild Uplands at Penistone Hill Country Park
Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities EditorVisit now
Wild Uplands
Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.
Bradford 2025 is a total transformation of the wider area as well as the cultural cornucopia of the city itself. Two of the inventive ways in which the surrounding landscape is being embraced into artistic happenings are through four large-scale art commissions, Wild Uplands, which you can explore whilst listening to a bespoke soundwalk created by Opera North titled Earth & Sky.
Wild Uplands will be located amongst the expansive moorland views of Penistone Hill Country Park. The landscape is a sea of earthy colour with heather and rock smeared across its surface, as well as being well laced with walking paths, making the journey through these artworks part of the enjoyment of them.
The four commissioned artists are as follows: Steve Messam, whose artwork Tower will pay homage to the significant impact of the wool industry in this whole area of Yorkshire. Meherrunnisa Asad and Studio Lél have created 99 Butterflies, a piece that reflects on the words of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish: “Where will the birds fly after the last sky?”. Joining them is Vanessa Da Silva’s series of sculptures reflecting the natural cycles of the landscape, Muamba Posy. Finally, Berlin-based Monira Al Qadiri will be completing the collection with The Children of Smokeless Fire. This work draws inspiration from an alternative form of spirituality, featuring both the Cottingley Fairies in 1917 and Djinns.
The journey through these artworks will be soundtracked by Opera North. After the success of previous sound walks in Leeds and Hull, they are combining the work of Bradford-born composer Frederick Delius and three commissioned composers, Caterina Barbieri, Nyokabi Kariũki and Gwen Siôn to create an immersive soundscape. Using state-of-the-art geolocation technology, you’ll hear a collage of these new works as well as Delius and field recordings as you journey through the artworks.
This is just a snapshot of the wider cultural happenings in Bradford throughout this year. Be sure to check out our full listings for Bradford 2025 – UK City of Culture.
