The House of Power

Participatory Performance & Sound

FOUR Elements Fitness, Oakland, CA, 2017

Sound: Siavash Jamshidi

Curated by Melissa Wyman

Each culture has a symbol that represents power. One of the traditional Iranian symbols for power is the cypress tree, signifying freedom and truth. Though standing upright, some say it bends its head in humility showing respect for Pahlivan - a person even stronger than the cypress.

For one night only, Shaghayegh Cyrous presented a participatory installation exploring imagery and sound sourced from traditionally all-male Iranian gyms called Zoorkhaneh (House of Power). Playing with gendered notions of strength, she invited people to create and share their own ideas of power.