Afghan-Australian Artists Spark 'Joy' At Melbourne’s Immigration Museum
- SAGA Magazine
- Jun 24
- 2 min read
At the heart of Melbourne’s Immigration Museum, a vivid celebration of ‘Joy’ is unfolding.
Afghan-Australian artists Elyas Alavi and Sher Ali's collaborative work, “In Search of the Simurgh,” is a standout in the museum’s flagship exhibition, Joy, which is running till August 29, 2025.
Alavi, a visual artist, curator, and poet, has teamed up with Sher Ali to bring a Persian myth to life on the museum walls. “In Search of the Simurgh” is an awe-inspiring mural that draws on the ancient legend of a mystical giant bird, a symbol of strength and resilience.
Through vibrant neon and paint, the artists craft a narrative that bridges their Afghan heritage with their Australian experience, offering visitors a powerful meditation on hope and belonging.
Identity And Community At Joy
Their installation is part of a broader exhibition that features seven newly commissioned works by leading Victorian-based creatives. Each artist explores joy through immersive installations—from nostalgic childhood memories to bold celebrations of identity and community.
Nadia Hernández’s “Qué te puedo decir, así son las cosas” invites reflection on everyday rituals. At the same time, Spencer Harrison’s “Bring it to the Runway, Runway” encourages visitors to embrace their authentic selves.
Meanwhile, Nixi Killick’s “Joy Generator,” Jazz Money’s “Our Laughter Will Become the Waterfall,” and Beci Orpin’s “Bunny Dearest” each offer unique perspectives on the universal pursuit of happiness.
For Alavi and Ali, the exhibition is more than an artistic showcase—it’s a space for dialogue and connection. Their work, alongside that of their peers, highlights how joy can be both personal and collective, shaped by migration, memory, and the courage to imagine new possibilities.
Elyas Alavi: Exploring Race & Sexuality
Elyas Alavi is a celebrated multi-disciplinary artist and poet based in Adelaide, whose work spans painting, installation, video, performance, and poetry. Born in Daikundi province, Afghanistan, Alavi’s life has been shaped by displacement: he fled to Iran as a child during the Afghan civil war and later sought refuge in Australia in 2007.
His practice is deeply informed by his experiences as a Hazara man, exploring the intersections of race, displacement, gender, religion, and sexuality.
Notably, Alavi’s recent works, such as the exhibition ALAM, reimagine traditional Shi’a ceremonial objects as portals for queer Muslim experiences, reclaiming historical rituals to express contemporary queer identity. Through neon, video, and text, he centres queer narratives within both his Afghan heritage and his life as an Australian artist.
Sher Ali: Migration & Belonging
Sher Ali, collaborating with Alavi on “In Search of the Simurgh,” brings his own perspective as an Afghan-Australian artist, contributing to a dialogue that bridges their shared heritage with the realities of migration and belonging.
Together, their mural draws on the ancient Persian myth of the Simurgh—a symbol of strength and resilience—offering visitors a meditation on hope, community, and the power of art to heal.
Joy
Where: Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders St, Melbourne.
When: Until August 29, 2025
Tickets: Adult ($15), Children (Free), here
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