ABOUT THE ARTIST

Alfredo & Isabel Aquilizan

(b. 1962- Philippines, b.1965- Philippines)

Internationally-acclaimed husband-and-wife duo Alfredo Aquilizan (b. 1962, Philippines) and Isabel Aquilizan (b. 1965, Philippines) approach their collaborative practice from the lens of their own personal experiences of global movement in relation to family and home. In doing so, they create highly detailed installations and sculptures that spark conversations around ideas of identity, migration, journey and displacement. Often using everyday, nontraditional materials, they draw attention to the transient nature of global movement, settlement and community, to create objects that serve as metaphors for everyday human life.

The works of Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan have been exhibited extensively in galleries and institutions worldwide, including Japanischen Palais, Germany (2024); Groninger Museum, Netherlands (2024); Rockhampton Museum of Art (2024); Asia Culture Center (2024); the Art Gallery of New South Wales (2023); National Gallery Singapore (2022); Madre Museum, Italy (2022); Tai Kwun Contemporary, Hong Kong (2021); Museum of Brisbane (2021); Auckland Art Gallery, New Zealand (2019); Mao Jihong Arts Foundation and Centre Pompidou, China (2018), amongst many others.

Flight/Path
2022 Cardboard and metal Dimensions variable
ⓒthe artists and Ames Yavuz

Yavuz’s artist duo, Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan worked on a six-month exploration of flight and were commissioned to create two works that utilise the overwhelming scale of Casula Powerhouse. Within the exhibition, there are two pieces of art: a wall installation and a floor painting. Transforming one of the gallery floors into an imaginative tarmac to encourage and stimulate visitors to wonder and experience the excitement of travel.

Arrivals and Departures: Project Another Country
2019-2025, Raw metal, 100 x 40 cm (each)
ⓒthe artists and Ames Yavuz

Arrivals and Departures: Project Another Country refers to an ongoing, collaborative art project by Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan, exploring themes of migration, displacement, identity, and belonging through large installations made from everyday materials like cardboard boats and found objects, often involving community workshops to create a sense of shared home and journey.

Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan models of buildings are made of raw metal. In their Arrivals and departures multi-storey towers of dense bricolage homes are piled on top of each other in chaotic constructions. Aquilizan’s houses are lively, with bird boxes, antennas and other signs of life. Each building is on a luggage trolleys, ready to move to a new location.

In-Habit 01
ACC光州：Connectivity Construction, 2023-2024 Asia Culture Center, Guangiu
ⓒthe artists and Ames Yavuz

“Water Fields” (Presences and Absences)
mixed media, variable size, Japan Alps Art Festival 2017
ⓒthe artists and Ames Yavuz

LADE : Project Another Country
boat, cardboard etc, variable size, Naka-Boso International Art Festival Ichihara Art x Mix 2014
ⓒthe artists and Ames Yavuz