1. Visitors interact with a joy neon glowing joy generator
    Photograph: Eugene Hyland
  2. A woman holds a yellow corded phone in a replica nineties video store
    Photograph: Eugene Hyland
  3. A giant toy bunny that takes up an entire room
    Photograph: Eugene Hyland
  • Art, Digital and interactive
  • Immigration Museum, Melbourne

Joy

Hug a giant toy bunny or step into a nineties video store at this colourful large-scale exhibition
Ashleigh Hastings
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Time Out says

The Immigration Museum on Flinders Street is getting its first major exhibition in several years and it’s all about leaning into what makes us happy. The exhibition, called Joy, will run through until August 29, 2025.

Joy features seven brand new commissioned installations from leading Victorian-based creatives, each expressing the artists’ own personal joy. You can expect an emotive adventure where colour and storytelling combine, and big happy moments that sit alongside more reflective ones.

Experience the vibrant power of joy as you walk amongst room-sized interactive artworks, or contribute your own joy with the collaborative ‘share your joy’ wall.

Venezuelan-born Australian artist Nadia Hernández has filled the Immigration Museum’s hallway with bold collage works, ‘future positive’ fashion designer Nixi Killick has created a ‘joy generator’ and queer artist Spencer Harrison has created a runway where you can strut your stuff.

Jazz Money, a Wiradjuri poet and artist, has fused sculpture, audio and mural for a work reflecting the history of the museum site, while local artist Beci Orpin has taken over a room with a giant toy rabbit made to be hugged. Afghanistan-Australian visual artist and poet Elyas Alavi and Sher Ali have also created a large-scale mural illustrating a Persian myth. 

Lastly, much-loved pop artist and designer Callum Preston has constructed a full-scale replica of a nineties video store, a joy he never thought he would miss until he realised it was gone.

Entry to Joy is included in the museum’s entry price, which is $15 for adults, $10 for kids and free for children and concession holders. Find out more and get tickets here.

Want more? Check out the best art and exhibitions in Melbourne this month.

Details

Address
Immigration Museum
Old Customs House
400 Flinders St
Melbourne
3000
Transport:
Nearby stations: Flinders St; Southern Cross
Price:
$0-15
Opening hours:
10am-5pm

Dates and times

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