Joy

See it. Share It.

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Joy brings the Immigration Museum to life with an emotive adventure where creativity, colour and storytelling join forces to take you on a transformative journey.

Seven newly commissioned installations by eight leading Victorian-based creatives offer a unique opportunity to experience the power and meaning of joy. Big joyous moments and more reflective spaces capture all kinds of joy, from the carefree years of childhood to a celebration of belonging and togetherness.

Explore what joy means to others then share what sparks your own joy with our colourful 'Share Your Joy' wall.

View an accessible, digital version of all the exhibition text.

Artist Video Series

Discover the joy behind each installation and learn more about the creativity and concepts that inspired these works.

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Artist Video Series Trailer

Discover the Artist Video Series

Discover the stories behind Joy and explore this vital emotion through the concepts of colour and storytelling.

Nadia Hernández

Que te puedo decir, así son las cosas 

Discover the ‘cotidianidad’ – meaning ‘everydayness’ that inspired this series of bold cut-out vignettes.

Spencer Harrison

Bring it to the Runway, Runway.  

Queer artist Spencer Harrison ‘drags up’ the architecture with a play of colour and light, discover the personal memories that inspired this creation.

Nixi Killick

Joy Generator 

Nixi Killick is an ‘Imagineer’. Discover her practice using colour and technology to poke the perimeters of possibility.

Elyas Alavi and Sher Ali

In Search of the Simurgh

Artists Elyas Alavi and Sher Ali tell the story of strength and resilience behind this this awe-inspiring mural.

Callum Preston

Video Land

Rewind to the 1990s and discover the nostalgia of Video Land.

Beci Orpin

Bunny Dearest

Hop back to your childhood and discover what inspires Beci Orpin’s work in a space between illustration, design and craft.

Jazz Money

Our Laughter Will Become the Waterfall

Wiradjuri artist and poet Jazz Money tells the story of the waterfall that once flowed with laughing water here upon Birrarung Marr.

Artists

Nadia Hernández

A child points up in wonder at a colourful vignette.
Que te puedo decir, así son las cosas by Nadia Hernández proposes joy as a daily practice in her vignettes that remix moments of connection.

Venezuelan-born Australian artist Nadia Hernández commemorates ‘cotidianidad’ – meaning ‘everydayness’ – in bold cut-out vignettes, examining daily moments conducive of joy that revolve around food and music.

Spencer Harrison

2 girls in awe as they discover an immersive walkway.
Bring It to the Runway, Runway by Spencer Harrison

Queer artist Spencer Harrison ‘drags up’ the architecture of the Museum with a play of colour and light, creating a joyful runway to strut your stuff and celebrate all identities.

Nixi Killick

Joy Generator by Nixi Killick provides a joyful key to connect with colour and ignite your imagination.

Globally renowned, ‘future positive’ fashion designer Nixi Killick invites us to spark our joy with her vibrant, interactive joy generator that fuses colour, technology and augmented reality.

Elyas Alavi with Sher Ali

In search of the Simurgh by Elyas Alavi with Sher Ali explores the connection between the epic story of the Persian mythic bird and migrant and refugee experiences.

Afghanistan-Australian visual artist and poet Elyas Alavi and Sher Ali explore resilience, strength and the joy of being connected in a large-scale mural and neon text, illustrating the story of the Simurgh, a Persian mythical bird.

Callum Preston

Callum Preston behind the counter of his replica 1990s video store, a place of significance during his carefree and joyous teenage years.
Video Land by Callum Preston is a replica 1990s video store, a place of significance during his carefree and joyous teenage years.

Multi-faceted pop artist and designer Callum Preston explores joy through the nostalgia of a full-scale replica of a 1990s video store, 'a joy,’ he says, ‘I never thought I would miss until I realised it was gone.’

Jazz Money

Children recline on large yellow pillows.
Our Laughter Will Become the Waterfall by Jazz Money is a domestic space of caring, gathering and sharing, alive with the joyful sound of laughter and singing.

Wiradjuri artist and poet Jazz Money expresses joy as both a tender, domestic space and a radical act. Her work enfolds us in a soundscape of laughter and care, surrounded by a painted mural referencing the waterfall that once flowed with laughing waters on the Birrarung Marr.

Beci Orpin

a young child jumps up in joy atop a giant stuffed bunny.
Bunny Dearest by Beci Orpin was made to be hugged, transporting you back to an all-encompassing sensation of childlike joy.

Celebrated local artist Beci Orpin, whose work occupies a space between illustration, design and craft, creates an all-encompassing sensation of joy with her giant soft-toy rabbit called Bunny Dearest, inspired by joyful childhood memories.

Accessibility

Some spaces in Joy have reflective flooring which may affect visitors with low vision.

Please view our accessibility page for general information. Contact our team on 13 11 02 or email us at [email protected] to discuss how we can support your visit.

Museums Victoria is grateful to its generous supporters for making Joy possible

MEDIA PARTNERS PRESENTING PARTNER Major Donors COLOUR PARTNER COLOUR PARTNER PRESENTING PARTNER FLOORING PARTNER Sam and NinaNARODOWSKI THE ESTATE OF Museums Victoria is grateful to its generous supporters for making Joy possible

Schedule

  • April 2025

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