“Existence was not only absurd, it was plain hard work. Think of how many times you put on your underwear in a lifetime. It was appalling, it was disgusting, it was stupid.” - Charles Bukowski
Humour and play are integral in the life and art of Joi Murugavell-- a lesson she learned from her father as an elixir to life’s absurdities. Behind the laughs lies a desperate desire to understand her world - away from the influences of family, friends and culture. Like a string in a maze, her art is the process by which she navigates the layers she’s acquired along the way.
Joi’s art is spontaneous, who’s characters frequently act out life experiences, capturing the beauty and pain of the human experience and the soul in flux. Her art is often abstract, bright, biting, humorous— and always on the edge of either feeling good or being another way to bleed.
In 2017, she was part of a performance piece called ‘Ask Me Anything’ with the Museum Of Contemporary Art Australia’s Young Ambassadors Club. In 2018, Joi was invited by abc Gallery Seoul to have her first solo exhibition 'Bananas Down Under' in South Korea, a debut of her large format paintings. Since then Joi has exhibited nationally and internationally in the United States, China, London, Amsterdam, Belgium, Mexico, Taiwan, Korea and recently at The Hyundai Seoul Alt.1 Museum. Her work has been presented at major contemporary art fairs including Art021 Shanghai, ARCO Madrid, Korea International Art Fair (KIAF) and Art Taipei.
Joi currently lives and works in Strasbourg France, next to a quiet dog park.
CV 2023