Vipoo Srivilasa: re/JOY

Australian Design Centre (ADC) is delighted to present re/JOY, a major exhibition by Thai-born Australian artist Vipoo Srivilasa. re/JOY honours and celebrates the multi-layered personal migration stories of people from all over the world who, like Vipoo, have made Australia their home.

 In 2023, the award-winning ceramic artist issued a public call-out for donations of broken ceramic objects that held significant meaning for their owners, and for their stories explaining why. From the responses Vipoo chose seven pieces and stories that resonated with him to create his striking new 1.5-metre-tall ceramic sculptures. These included a teapot made in Korea, a terracotta tile from India, and a clay sculpture from Mexico, all damaged in some way yet still precious. Vipoo has also made an eighth sculpture referencing his own experiences moving from Thailand to Australia, based around a button from his grandfather that holds strong family connections.

re/JOY is a collaborative, community-driven project designed to engage with overseas-born Australians. It examines the emotional connection we have with everyday objects and their role in our lives through migration experiences and memories. It also draws out the complex feelings associated with overseas relocation, the difficult process of gaining Australian permanent residency, and the many meanings of home.

Vipoo Srivilasa, Dance of Dreams. Photo Simon Strong