Award-winning and internationally-acclaimed husband-and-wife duo Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan (b. 1965 and 1962, 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, non-traditional 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); Podo Museum, South Korea (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.
In June 2023, the Aquilizans presented a major survey exhibition, Somewhere, Elsewhere, Nowhere at Museum MACAN, Indonesia which encompasses two decades of their work.
The artists have participated in The National 4: Australian Art Now, Campbelltown Art Centre (2023); Busan Biennale, South Korea (2019); Gangwon International Biennale, South Korea (2018); Sharjah Biennale, UAE (2013); Asia Pacific Triennale, Australia (2009); Singapore Biennale (2008); Biennale of Sydney, Australia (2006); Gwangju Biennale, South Korea (2004); and Venice Biennale, Italy (2003).
Their works are included in the major collections such as Museum MACAN (Indonesia); the Singapore Art Museum; Fukuoka Asian Art Museum (Japan); Queensland Art Gallery (Australia); MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum (Thailand); ILHAM Museum (Malaysia); Facebook, Menlo Park Headquarters (USA); Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (Australia); and Lopez Museum Foundation (Philippines).
The artists currently reside between Los Baños, Philippines and Brisbane, Australia.