OTTAWA — Negotiations are under way to use an unusually named art gallery in Ottawa as an off-hours film set for pornographic films, its owner says.

Guy Berube told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. he needs more income to pay the bills at his Le Petite Mort gallery.

In English, the gallery’s name means “The Little Death,” a French term for an orgasm.

Berube said it’s difficult to pay the bills with money earned solely on art sales. He said he has rented out the gallery for events in the past and is in talks with two adult-film producers.

“I’ve seen some great porn, I’ve seen some really bad porn,” he told the broadcaster. “I’m hoping this space can motivate them to do fantastic porn.”

Another city gallery owner, Pierre Luc St.-Laurent, of Gallerie St-Laurent & Hill gallery, said renting out space wasn’t unusual, but questioned the aftermath.

“Who would want to arrive after the fact in a gallery where they film porn?” St.-Laurent said.