When you think of visiting an art gallery, you can imagine being serious and devoted to a place. However, a new show at Melbourne’s Immigration Museum aims to make you smile, sway and even dance!
‘Joy’ is on display at the Joy Center Stage until December 7, with a presentation of work by Victoria-based creatives. In their own way, each artist evokes joy, as the gallery says, ‘Happier moments and more reflective spaces capture all kinds of joy, from the carefree years of childhood to celebrations of connection and togetherness.’
Ilyas Alvi is an Afghan-Australian visual artist and poet who created ‘In Search of Search’ with Sher Ali. The work aims to celebrate the resilience and strength of immigrants and refugees, as well as the idea that with community you can face challenges and experience joy. The optimistic message takes the form of large-scale murals and neon text, illustrating the story of the Samorug, a Persian mythological bird (with parallels to the story of the rising phoenix). Inspired by nature, ‘Our laughter will become a waterfall’ by Wiradjuri artist and poet Jaz Money, a painted mural that references the ‘laughing water’ of Brarang Mar and expresses the joy of living in the country.
Nadia Hernandez shares ‘Quie tpedo decare, je beta las cosas’ (or, what can I say, that’s the point) a work that celebrates everyday moments, or ‘quotidianidad’ like a good tune or some great grub! His aesthetic is bold and bright with a tableau of cutout-like shapes that seemingly drain into our field of vision, allowing us to enjoy a moment of joy—just as his work is inspired by everyday pleasures.
Slipping on good vibes and nostalgia and Preston’s piece ‘Videoland’ replicates the experience of wandering though a video store in the 1990s. He invites you to a Friday night movie and a basket in memory of the ‘Playshop’ hunt, as the designer and artist says it’s an experience ‘I never thought I’d remember until I realized it was over.’ He digs up videos from all over Australia, it’s special to imagine that all these VHS tapes (now shelved for 20 years) have lived past lives and brought joy to individuals. It’s also an opportunity to introduce younger generations to a world before the instant gratification of streaming content.
Tapping into alternative reality artist and fashion designer Nixie Kilic (a self-described ‘Imaginer’), the ‘Joy Generator’ features a clamshell-sized machine that she describes as a ‘pillar of positivity’. It emits light, color and has nine augmented reality targets that you can interact with using your phone that symbolize change and positive change. A real voice!
Bunny Dearest by Becky Orpin is an ode to childhood and is inspired in part by being surprised by something, a random belly laugh, or an unexpected goof as you grow older. It considers the power of happiness, it’s not just for the young. Flipping the script on how one would ‘normally’ interact with an artwork, the audience is invited to sit, climb or chill on the much-loved sculptural installation.
Reiterating the idea that joy is for everyone, Spencer Harrison’s work ‘Bring on the Runway, Runway’ manifests as a colorful and inclusive runway, inviting you to strut your stuff under an umbrella of colorful Perspex jewelery and playlists. Harrison’s intervention in the space aims to celebrate all identities, inspired by memories of growing up as a young queer person who performed and performed in drag.
The artists collectively demonstrate the power of happiness and the role that art can play in helping us find it. The show ‘Joy’ is also an example of how there are multiple ways to reach the destination of a positive experience or happy moment. Ultimately, an array of individual artists, with diverse practices and personal histories, exemplifies that happiness is accessible to all of us.
