Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan
Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan are renowned contemporary Filipino artists known for their collaborative works that explore themes of displacement, identity, and home. They often incorporate found objects, recycled materials, and personal belongings into their installations, which are informed by their experiences as migrants themselves.
The artists' credo is to construct, gather, and deconstruct collective memories, all with a vision of fostering fresh hopes for the future through their projects.
Biography of Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan
Alfredo Juan was born in 1962 in Cagayan Valley, Philippines, and Maria Isabel was born in 1965 in Manila, Philippines. They currently live and work in Australia.
In 1999, Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan showcased their work at The 3rd Asia Pacific Triennial, launching their participation in numerous international exhibitions. After relocating from the Philippines to Australia in 2006, themes related to their personal identity gained significant importance in their artistic expressions.
The artists have been actively involved in numerous international biennials and exhibitions, with their work showcased at prominent events such as the Sharjah Biennale in the United Arab Emirates (2013), the Asia Pacific Triennale in Australia (2009), the Singapore Biennale (2008), the Adelaide Biennale in Australia (2008), the Biennale of Sydney (2006), the Third Echigo-Tsumari Triennale in Japan (2006), the Gwangju Biennale in Korea (2004), and La Biennale de Venezia in Italy (2003), among many others.
Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan's Art Style
Delving into themes encompassing migration and cultural dislocation, Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan craft mixed-media artworks using collected and reconfigured materials. Their deliberate choice of cardboard as a predominant material is significant, as each piece carries its own history of travel. Furthermore, for the artists, it serves as a deliberate strategy to connect with people, given that cardboard is an unpretentious material.
"Collection Exhibition 2 Sea Lane - Connecting to the Islands" features a diverse roster of artists, including Charles Lim Yi Yong, Miyagi Futoshi, Sakata Kiyoko, Teruya Yuken, Ura Kyoko, Watson Judy, Yanase Anri, Yee I-Lann, Zai Kuning, and Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan. The Aquilizans embarked on a compelling project centered around the theme of 'home' following their relocation from their hometown of Manila to Brisbane in 2006. One of the exhibition's highlights is 'Passage: Another Country,' a symbolic representation of the lives of individuals whose homes were submerged beneath the waters of a dammed lake. This poignant installation serves as a reflection on contemporary society's emphasis on economic efficiency, raising critical questions about the impact of capitalism's relentless pursuit of growth, often framed as development and progress, on various aspects of cultures, customs, and values. Through their work, the Aquilizans invite viewers to contemplate these pressing societal issues and their implications for our shared human experience.
"Home/Return 2019" transforms humble cardboard material into sculptural objects and wall pieces. Originally fashioned as dwellings by children or members of a community, these cardboard structures are now reconfigured and separated from their original purpose. As we contemplate their absence, we envision the imagined community to which they once belonged.