Sep 24
Pedro Reyes: Ahimsa
The Sanskrit word Ahimsa, meaning “nonviolence” in the ancient language of Hindu and Buddhist texts, is a principle at the heart of this solo exhibition by Mexican artist Pedro Reyes (b.1972, Mexico City Mexico). Reyes transforms weapons of violence into tools for peace, protest, and community action. The Kaemmer Family Gallery displays musical instruments built from repurposed firearms and Palas por Pistolas (Shovels for Guns) (2006), in which 1,527 surrendered guns were recast as shovels to plant 1,527 trees— a testament to Reyes’ commitment to poetic and practical action.
In the Baucher Gallery, Reyes’ global advocacy for nuclear disarmament comes into focus through Artists Against the Bomb, an international initiative supporting the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and the monumental inflatable Zero Nukes I (2021), a mushroom cloud emblazoned with the call “ZERO NUCLEAR WEAPONS” in eight languages. Together, these artworks invite visitors to consider the global culture of militarization, the normalization of weapons, and the systems — whether political, economic, or cultural — that allow violence to persist. Just as urgently, Reyes offer imagined pathways toward healing, solidarity, and a safer, more just future.
This exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Ward Lucas Lecture Series in the Arts and the Art and Art History Department. Pedro Reyes will be visiting Carleton Tuesday, September 23rd and Wednesday, September 24th. See campus calendar for related events.