re/JOY

22 November 2024 - 19 February 2025

Ceramic artist Vipoo Srivilasa's solo exhibition re/JOY represents his most significant body of work to date, and the largest he has ever attempted.

For this collaborative community project Vipoo has taken seven precious, yet broken, ceramic objects donated by strangers, each with their own story of migration to different parts of Australia. Around these pieces he has built seven towering, large-scale works, plus a smaller one in honour of his own story.

Presented as part of Australian Design Centre’s 60th anniversary year, re/JOY aims to engage with overseas-born Australians, but anyone will recognise the connections we form with objects that hold special memories and can evoke strong emotions.

Curated by Lisa Cahill, ADC’s CEO and Artistic Director, and designed by Stephen Goddard, re/JOY captures the diversity of migration stories and how people build their different lives in Australia. It also looks at the complex feelings and challenges that come with relocating countries and finding a new place to belong, the pain of leaving family and friends, the difficulties of applying to stay.

Above all, re/JOY is a joyful, playful and hopeful project – a rich tapestry of humanity.

Vipoo won ADC’s inaugural MAKE Award in 2023, and on 1 November 2024, Paperboat Press launches Vipoo Srivilasa - Positive Art Work, a major monograph about the artist and his practice.

The exhibition will tour Australia from 2025 to 2027 with ADC On Tour, Australian Design Centre’s national exhibition touring program, supported by regional gallery partners.

Australian Design Centre, NSW 22 November – 19 February 2025
JamFactory at Seppeltsfield, SA 8 March - 22 June 2025
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, TAS 11 July– 24 August 2025
Geelong Gallery, VIC 6 September - 2 November 2025
Tweed Art Gallery, NSW 14 November - 8 February 2026
Shoalhaven Regional Art Gallery, NSW 21 February - 2 May 2026
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, NSW 17 July - end August 2026
Rockhampton Museum of Art, QLD 19 September - 15 November 2026
Cairns Art Gallery, QLD 28 November - 7 February 2027

Celebrating its 60th birthday in 2024, Australian Design Centre makes a significant contribution as a cultural organisation curating artist-led projects in contemporary craft and design. Through these projects we celebrate the value of objects and the importance of design in everyday life.

Vipoo Srivilisa received a Creative Australia grant for re/JOY with ADC as the commissioning partner.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government's Visions of Australia program.

In the project development stage, Vipoo was assisted by curator Tian Zhang, who specialises in collaboration and social change, to realise his artistic vision for re/JOY.

Read Vipoo's interview with Daniel Browning on ABC Radio's Art Show here.