Exhibition Opening of Sydney Modern and Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan

4 Dec 2022

The Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) is exhibiting Dreamhome: Stories of Art and Shelter along with the debut of Sydney Modern as their new home for the arts. The exhibition welcomes artists from all across the world to share their ‘dream home’—featuring artist duo Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan, amongst others.

Dreamhome: Stories of Art and Shelter curated by Justin Paton, presents a collection of thought-provoking artworks that explore the theme of home in all its complexity. Mirroring personal narratives from their diverse backgrounds and experiences, thus moulding each artist’s aesthetic vision of their ‘dream homes.’

Making it Home is a collaborative project by the Philippines-born, Brisbane-based artist duo that invites school students and communities to come together and create these dream home sculptures. With these miniature cardboard dream homes, it is eventually formed into the mesmeric structure titled From this place, that canopies visitors in the first room of the exhibit.

While the Aquilizans’ work came from a personal narrative that explored the concept of migrational impact on the definition of home, they mentioned that “the work demystifies the idea of art that it is not an individual pursuit but a collective one”.

“That all of us in one way or another have gone through similar journeys in life and we want to extend the idea of ownership of the work to everyone who has come and taken part, not only in the making, but also who experience the work on view.”

The sentiments of From this place bring out a sense of belonging in communities through art, which aligns with Paton’s desire for Sydney Modern to not only be a new home of art in Australia but also serve as a space for “people from all walks of life to have their own space and time to encounter art.”

From this place, is a part of Dreamhome: Stories of Art and Shelter and runs till late 2023 in Sydney Modern at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Image: Installation views of the Dreamhome: Stories of Art and Shelter exhibition in the new building at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, featuring Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan, From this place 2022 © Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan, photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, | photo: Felicity Jenkins