A very popular artist in Germany, Otmar Alt now lives in Shipley's twin town, Hamm, situated in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany.
 | | Alt in 2-D! |
His work has been described as "cheerfully grotesque". Think of very colourful jigsaw puzzles and it may give you some idea what Alt is all about. Like the Catalan artist Joan Miró, who has inspired his work, Alt not only sculpts but paints and works in ceramics. Jewellery, toys, lamps, eyeglasses - he's done them all! The Otmar Alt exhibition marks the 30th anniversary of the twinning of Shipley and Hamm. Most of his works will be on show at Cartwright Hall and the surrounding Lister Park, but four of his sculptures can be found in Bradford city centre.
Alt has been so pleased by the Bradford exhibition he has now given one of these sculptures, The Highlander, to Bradford. You can find this just below the Oastler Centre! It's not yet been decided whether the sculpture will stay somewhere in the city centre or take up permanent residence at Cartwright Hall.
 | | Perhaps not the politest of visitors to Bradford! |
But fair exchange is no robbery and while Alt's art has found a temporary home in Bradford, Hockney has gone to Hamm! A new exhibition, David Hockney: Ways of Seeing is at Hamm's Gustav-Lubcke Museum until July 2nd, 2006. It consists of paintings and drawings from Cartwright Hall by Bradford's most famous living artist, including one of his most celebrated paintings, Le Plongeur (the diver), from 1978. Jane Glaister, Bradford's Director of Arts, Heritage and Leisure, says: "David Hockney is known across the world and we here in Bradford are very proud of his work so it is great that residents and visitors to our twin town will get a chance to see his work.
 | | Fair exchange: Bradford's Hockneys go to Hamm! |
"This is our great chance to forge further cultural links with Hamm and is especially welcome on this, our 30th anniversary of being twin towns. We are also extremely pleased to welcome artwork from Mr Alt and see some of his sculptures in Bradford." But this is just one of a number of cultural and sporting links between the two cities and David Hockney is not the only Bradford artist currently on show in Hamm. If you missed it in Bradford Joolz Denby's exhibition, New Model Army: Arts and Artefacts, can be caught there until May 7th - inside a big glass elephant! The Otmar Alt exhibition runs at Cartwright Hall, Lister Park and Bradford city centre until September 10th, 2006. | 
