An emotive adventure where creativity, colour and storytelling join forces to take you on a transformative journey, Melbourne’s Immigration Museum presents Joy.
Seven acclaimed Victorian-based artists delve deep into their souls to express what joy means to them through vibrant room-sized installations: Elyas Alavi (with Sher Ali), Spencer Harrison, Nadia Hernández, Nixi Killick, Jazz Money, Beci Orpin and Callum Preston.
For an introduction in the stately hallway of the ground floor, Nadia Hernández celebrates ‘contidianidad’ (everydayness) by heroing the comforts and rituals that constitute her diasporic connections and relationships in Que te puedo decir, asi son las cosas.
Pops of colour and people’s personal stories about what joy means to them will lead visitors up to the second floor where Spencer Harrison asks people to strut their true selves unapologetically beneath iridescent jewels in Bring it to the Runway, Runway.
Beci Orpin evokes her childhood bedroom in rural Victoria with a soft toy on steroids in Bunny Dearest, and Callum Preston opens a portal into a 90s happy place with Video Land.
Also on the second floor, Jazz Money presents joy as a radical act to stand up against oppression in Our Laughter Will Become the Waterfall, Nixi Killick explodes a psychedelic colour bomb to fan the flames of optimism and elation in Joy Generator, and Elyas Alavi (with Sher Ali) shares the beautiful Persian myth of a mystical giant bird through neon and paint In search of the Simurgh.
“In 2018 the Immigration Museum presented the much-adored Love exhibition, embracing stories of identity, belonging and togetherness – and Joy very much continues this journey,” said Museums Victoria CEO & Director Lynley Crosswell.
“Through newly commissioned works by a diverse and talented pool of artists, this glorious new exhibition sees Immigration Museum come to life in a vibrant celebration of joy – a testament to the resilience and creativity of the human spirit.”
Joy
Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders St, Melbourne
Exhibition continues to 29 August 2025
Entry included with Museum entry
For more information, visit: www.museumsvictoria.com.au for details.
Image: Nixi Killick (NXK), Joy Generator (Installation View) – photo by Eugene Hyland