Tony Urquhart, Canadian, b. 1934, Hero!, 1961, woodcut, 30.2 x 22.6 cm. Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Gift of the Artist, 1992.

Being Magnified: Heroes and Villains from KW|AG's Permanent Collection

September 18, 2009 - August 29, 2010
Opening Reception: Fri, Sept 18, 2009, 5 - 7 p.m.

Read an interview with Registrar Cindy Wayvon about Being Magnified >

There have been stories told throughout history that have carried a timeless and profound resonance within mass consciousness. Perhaps these impactful myths, from the Epic of Gilgamesh to Star Wars, contain within them a reflection of the truth of our being which we intuitively recognize. Comparative mythologist Joseph Campbell identified an archetypal patterning, a common thread, through every myth ever created which he called "The Heroes Journey". He believed that through symbolism, mythology provides a glimpse of our own true nature and a road map to self actualization.

Being Magnified delineates this mythic commonality, the framework for all storytelling whether mythical, spiritual or filmic. At the beginning, ordinary beings respond to an innate internally driven curiosity to explore or improve their world, often characterized by a sense that there must be more or that things should be better. Their search for happiness, or an improved condition, brings them face to face with an obstacle, a decision, or an adversary which forces a discovery of untapped strength or wisdom within. Like a magnifying glass, this evolution amplifies the true being within - a unique and profound expression which resonates when witnessed by others.