New Aurora art exhibition inspired by ancient snake symbol

The Aurora Cultural Centre has unveiled its newest exhibition in the top floor of its newly reopened facility within Town Square.

The show named Congruent (by definitions) is curated by gallery assistant Adora Lau, the 24-year-old’s first time leading the curation of an exhibition. 

The six pieces in the show were picked through an open-call process. The works are done largely by early career artists, four of whom are from the York Region area.

The theme of the show was inspired by “ouroboros,” according to Lau, an image of a snake eating its own tail, which dates back to ancient Egypt and Greece. Based on that symbol, the show explores themes of “cyclical patterns, relapse, growth and metamorphosis,” according to the gallery.

“It’s talking about repetition, habits and breaking throughout out of a cycle,” said Lau, who herself is an up-and-coming painter. 

“Through their art, they are restructuring their narrative, because they are creating their own story and their own version of it,” she added, “and re-telling the story in their own voice, through art.”

The artists tackle the theme in different ways. Aurora artist Susan Wood’s three-part hanging fabric piece was based on her own experiences working as a social worker.

The six featured artists in the show are Amanda Blake from Toronto, Phoebe Chen from Whitchurch-Stouffville, Judith Livingston from Markham, Christina Margaretha from Mount Albert, Vishwa Patel from Toronto, and Wood from Aurora.

Congruent (by definitions) is part of a pair of exhibition walk and talks to be held Saturday, Dec. 7, along with another currently unopened exhibition, called Seven Masters. More information about the exhibition can be found online.

The cultural centre is also looking for applicants for its artist-in-resident program. The deadline is Sunday, Nov. 3. More information can be found online.

The cultural centre is located at Aurora Town Square, 50 Victoria St.