Join us for an artist talk by Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan, two of Asia’s leading contemporary artists noted for their community-based installation works around the world. They are currently in Charleston as artists-in-residence at the Foundation for Spirituality and the Arts (FSA). The talk will be followed by a Q/A session moderated by FSA Founder Tyler Rollins.

FSA, based in Charleston, SC, builds on the wisdom of millennia of careful reflection about the divine, and fosters conversations, residencies, and other programs to nurture connections between contemporary art, spirituality, and faith.

Alfredo Juan Aquilizan (b. 1962, Cagayan, Philippines) and Isabel Aquilizan y Gaudinez (b. 1965, Manila, Philippines in 1965) evolved their collaborative practices within the spheres of their family and communities of friends and artists. They moved with their five children to Australia in 2006 and now divide their time between Brisbane and Los Baños, Philippines.

In June 2023, the Aquilizans presented a major survey exhibition, Somewhere, Elsewhere, Nowhere, at Museum MACAN (Jakarta, Indonesia), which encompasses two decades of their work. They have exhibited 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).

The artists have participated in several art fairs and biennials including 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 collections of the Museum MACAN (Indonesia); Singapore Art Museum; Fukuoka Asian Art Museum (Japan); National Museum of Australia (Canberra); Queensland Art Gallery (Australia); MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum (Thailand); ILHAM Museum (Malaysia); MSK Museum of Fine Art (Ghent, Belgium); Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (Australia); and Lopez Museum Foundation (Philippines), among others.