Kasim Tariq is a Social Designer & Artist with a background in Interior Architecture & Design and has received numerous accolades for his work, including an award for the “Most Experimental Project” from Coventry University in 2018. Kasim's Social Design Project and intervention work has been recognised by Bradford City and King Charles III for its positive impact on culture in the region through art & social enterprise. Kasim's study focused on Biomimicry and rammed-earth buildings, as showcased in his "Vernacular Ringing Mosque" project. A humanitarian architectural project utilising nature to provide power and desalinated water to rural Pakistan. He exhibited his Architectural Design work at the New Designers show in London in July 2018. Kasim has experience in domestic construction, woodworking, pottery, resin casting and other design technologies. He has over 8 years of experience machining using CNC, wood lathes and various workshop equipment.

Daniel Lockwood works from his childhood home in Bradford, where he learnt to make and repair stained glass windows under the careful supervision of his Father. Daniel keeps the heritage of the art and the family history alive through the beautiful stained-glass panes that he creates. Daniel draws the patterns by hand and uses an oil-filled glass cutter to cut the glass using the drawn template underneath. Each glass piece is assembled with a lead cane to complete the design before being sealed using traditional techniques. His work has been featured in the Yorkshire Post. You can read more about Danny Lockwood and his work at Leaded Glass Studios by clicking the image above.

Andrew Green is a local Artisan Blacksmith who regularly showcases his work at country fairs such as the Cumberland Show. Andrew, Originally from Todmorden has spent the last 25 years living in Cleckheaton. Previously Andrew worked in the injection moulding industry as a tooling engineer, travelling through Asia before deciding to invest in his own Blacksmithing workshop. You can find Andrew at his workshop, Chimps Forge in Cleckheaton, creating bespoke chandeliers and sculptures. Andrew and Kasim have been working together to produce the steel skeletal structure. A 9 ft tall structure, that will house stained glass panels and the lighting solutions, will be clad with a jesmonite resin fascia exemplifying the architecture of Lister Mill. You can read more about Andrew and his work by visiting his website. Andrew takes commissions for bespoke Architectural solutions and Interior Design Elements all created using traditional blacksmithing techniques. You can visit his website by clicking on the image above.

The BD:is LiT Festival is returning for its second instalment, lighting up spaces to showcase the beauty of the Bradford Metropolitan District after dark in all its glory. City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, in partnership with Bradford 2025, The Leap and The National Science and Media Museum, have funded the creation of innovative new light art projects and installations to take place across the district as part of BD:is LiT 2023 in October. One of these art projects is a sculpture from Fayakunu Cultural Art Studio, by Lead Artist and Creative Director Kasim Tariq. With Bradford receiving the City of Culture award, Bradford Council wanted to showcase the city’s incredible culture outside of the town hall. The Bekun sculpture by Fayakunu is a testament to Bradford’s post-industrial history and resilience in the face of economic decline. LITE were appointed to the project at the stage of the design concept, working with Kasim to provide innovative lighting solutions to bring his vision to reality. LITE specified CK Fixtures for this project and implemented a unique solution, installing the lighting solutions inside the sculpture to illuminate it from within. The light glow can be seen through the stained glass and Jesmonite resin that the monument is cast in, creating a dynamic display of colours and highlights. Kasim Tariq, Lead Artist and Creative Director at Fayakunu Studio, said: “It has been an honour to have the Bekun commissioned for BD:is LiT. The Bekun shines a light on the context of people's stories of arrival to our city. The solutions from LITE have brought the sculpture to life to showcase the message we are conveying. The unique solutions of lighting the sculpture from the centre allowed us to have quality lighting while keeping the integrity of the art and finishing it in the way we desired. “The Bekun honor’s the migrant communities that settled in England in post-war Britain. Their arrival in Bradford was a new beginning and an opportunity for their families to thrive. Their hopes, dreams and aspirations are captured in the essence of the sculpture, reflecting its history and connecting the monument to the individual lives of each viewer.” The BD:is Lit festival is organised and supported by Bradford Council, The Leap, The National Media Museum, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Levelling Up. In its first year in 2021, BD:is LiT reached over 30,000 people and commissioned over 25 new installations animating the district and bringing extraordinary light art to Bradford. This illuminated sculpture will stand out as part of a wide program of light and activity, a unique way of celebrating the rich heritage of the Bradford District. Project Details:
Client: City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Artist: Kasim Tariq, Fayakunu Cultural Art Studio
Lighting Solutions: LITE Architectural
Lighting Products: CK Fixtures

Signify & LITE have partnered together to sponsor and support the lighting solutions for the Bekun installation. LITE & Signify have provided technical support during the designs and provided demonstrations of their newest products including Philips/Signify's Vaya Tube Light.