Toronto biennial brings monument to resilience and spiritual liberation to a Sikh community centre
Nirbhai (nep) Singh Sidhu’s large-scale sculpture commission is now a permanent fixture of the Scarborough Gurdwara
In Scarborough, Toronto, a new monument has been unveiled on the grounds of a Sikh gurdwara as part of the Toronto Biennial of Art. The striking outdoor sculpture, titled A Deathless Potential In Remembrance By You (2026), is the creation of artist Nirbhai (nep) Singh Sidhu. The monument embodies the concept of Jivan Mukti, a state of spiritual liberation achieved while still alive.
This concept resonates with various faiths, including the Islamic idea of jihad al nafs and the struggle against the ego. Sidhu's work often combines traditional Sikh faith with modern elements, as seen in his previous projects like a pinball machine adorned with traditional Punjabi decoration and paintings that merge Sikh calligraphy with algorithms.
Sidhu's installation at the Scarborough Gurdwara's garden draws inspiration from the Sikh genocide, featuring an almost classical formalism infused with ancient and modern elements. To pay tribute to the guru's sons who were martyred, Sidhu collected earth from their Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib site in Punjab, India, and mixed it with bricks to create the sculpture's rectangular structure.
This act of subversion and resistance symbolizes the entombment of the guru's sons, as the bricks maintain an unadulterated connection to their homeland, despite many Sikhs in Canada facing difficulties in obtaining Indian passports or visas.
The sculpture's steel structure is concealed within the bricks, arranged in an asymmetrical pattern with apertures that let in light and frame views of the surrounding greenery. Sidhu intended the bricks to represent a "joyous rebellion" and a form of transcendence, unlocking the static object from its disturbing past. The sculpture sits atop a fountain-like steel trough and is surrounded by a garden designed by Alan Shields, which incorporates plants from various regions to symbolize the universal embrace of resistance and resilience.
The exhibition, titled "Things Fall Apart" and curated by Allison Glenn, will showcase works by 30 artists and opens in September, offering a deep power of invitation to contemplate the resistance and resilience of oppressed communities from every faith and culture.
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