The Pit: Nasim Pirhadi

Nasim Pirhadi turns the KAG’s Cube Gallery into a gym. Not just any gym, but a zurkhaneh, a Farsi word that translates as “house of strength.” Unlike most Western gyms, a zurkhaneh has strict prohibitions against women and non-Muslims. As such, The Pit, which is open to everyone, becomes a site of resistance, and within that, a place for contemplation and strength. What makes the experience of entering Pirhadi’s gym unique, what makes it art, is the artist’s upending of cultural conventions. kag.bc.ca