Joy

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 unique 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.

Discover the artists

Nadia Hernández: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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

Please view the museum's accessibility page for general information. Contact the museum team on 13 11 02 or email them at [email protected] to discuss how they can support your visit.
Some spaces in Joy have reflective flooring which may affect visitors with low vision.