Joy Phrasavath’s work grows from the memory of many moments in his childhood when he learned the role of interpretation in everyday life. As a child of immigrants, learning and assimilating to a new culture were essentially “learn as you go” – leading to multiple and quite interesting interpretations of aspects of life by being open to all experiences, and allowing for a more consistent appreciation and acceptance of the beauty and subtleties of life. Nature is a primary influence in Joy’s work, as he examines the implications of time, cycles, coexistence, seasons, and earth elements in the animal and plant kingdoms as well as the human form. He enjoys portraying the relationship between nature’s dominating force over human existence and mankind’s respect and consideration for it. More recently he has focused on subtle role reversals, wordplay, and skewering interpretations that are often taken for granted. Through the use of simple and familiar subjects, objects, and situations – portrayed with a slight twist – Joy touches on the art/audience relationship, participation, and interaction, with the goal of triggering forgotten memories within the viewer.