Memory lane aimed at bringing joy

THE vibrant colours of queer culture is what greet visitors into the recently launched Joy exhibition at Melbourne’s Immigration Museum, with the opening work created by a local artist.

Ballarat’s Spencer Harrison is one of seven Victorian creatives commissioned by Museums Victoria to develop an installation for the project which was unveiled at the start of the month.

On display until August 29 next year as part of the broader show, Harrison’s piece titled Bring it to the Runway, Runway encapsulates what joy means to him.

“I reflected on my past growing up as a young queer person and the places I found joy in,” he said.

“For me, that safe space was in queer nightclubs and spaces where queer art was performed like drag and fashion shows.

“I took those references and memories and combined them together to create a bit of a homage to all those spaces.”

Harrison aimed to evoke the queer spaces of his youth using a long corridor runway-style expanse accompanied by nightclub-appropriate dance music and suspended abstract jewels representing drag accessories.

A yearlong effort, Harrison worked with local fabricators and produced the works in his Ballarat studio before installing in February.

Other artists interpreted the exhibition’s joyful theme with installations such as a video store replication and a giant teddy bear.

“I’m hoping my work sets the mood for the exhibition and creates a really welcoming environment for everyone,” Harrison said.

“I want to capture that feeling I felt in those queer spaces and

have people feel joy with the colour, the light, and the music so people can strut their stuff and feel joy.

“What’s great is all the artists’ personal response to the theme. There’s a personal connection in how people have responded with nostalgia.”