JXSH MVIR: Forever I Live opens Saturday 9 March until Sunday 14 July 2024 at Koorie Heritage Trust.
In a celebration of the extraordinary talent of the late artist Josh Muir, the Koorie Heritage Trust is set to host the first major solo retrospective exhibition, “JXSH MVIR: Forever I Live,” from 9th March to 14th July 2024.
Born and raised on Wadawurrung Country in Ballarat, Victoria, Muir’s impact on the Australian art scene is immeasurable, and this exhibition promises an intimate journey through his prolific career.
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The title, “Forever I Live”, is borrowed from Muir’s 2015 artwork of the same name, serving as a poignant reminder of the enduring legacy he left behind after his passing in 2022. Co-curated by Josh’s partner Shanaya Sheridan, his mother Justine Berg, and the Koorie Heritage Trust’s curatorial team, the exhibition aims to encapsulate Muir’s unique artistic journey.
Muir’s distinctive contemporary iconography, influenced by street art and a pop aesthetic, takes center stage in “Forever I Live.” The exhibition showcases Muir’s exploration of cultural identity, the impact of colonisation, and personal struggles, including mental health, addiction, loss, and grief. Known for his vibrant use of colour and geometric patterning, Muir’s works span across various mediums, including painting, digital prints on aluminum, neon, animated video works, and augmented reality experiences.
Josh Muir (Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta and Barkindji) Forever I Live, 2015
digital print on aluminium 510 x 320 mm
Private Collection, Naarm/Melbourne
The retrospective traces Muir’s artistic evolution, from his initial group exhibition at Koorie Heritage Trust in 2013 to winning accolades like the Victorian Indigenous Art Awards People’s Choice Award 2014 and the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) Youth and People’s Choice Award in 2015. His public art commission, “Still Here” (2016), projected on the National Gallery of Victoria, further solidified his impact.
The Koorie Heritage Trust previously hosted Muir’s first solo exhibition, “Josh X Muir,” in 2018, which was a testament to his growing influence. Muir’s dedication to storytelling through art is evident in pieces like “Journey to Liberty” (2018), which earned him the Lendlease Reconciliation Award.
The exhibition, supported by Creative Victoria, City of Melbourne, the Australian Government Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support, and ANZ Bank, promises an immersive experience into Muir’s vibrant world.
“JXSH MVIR: Forever I Live” opens on Saturday, 9th March, running until Sunday, 14th July 2024, at the Koorie Heritage Trust, Birrarung Building, Federation Square.
For more information, head here.
