In the Curator’s Words: At ICA San Diego, two sisters explore the fragility of life and the pain of loss

by Michael James Rocha

In the Curator’s Words is an occasional series that takes a critical look at current exhibitions through the eyes of curators.

The Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego calls itself “a living laboratory for the transformational power of art to build vibrant communities.”

“Las Hermanas Iglesias: wontloversrevoltnow,” a new exhibit that opened last month at its North campus in Encinitas, uses the “transformational power of art” by two sisters to spark a conversation.

Jordan Karney Chaim, ICA’S curator, talks about the powerful installation featuring the work of sisters Lisa and Janelle Iglesias, who collaborate artistically as Las Hermanas Iglesias.

Sibling artists Lisa and Janelle Iglesias are featured in "'Las Hermanas Iglesias: wontloversrevoltnow'," an exhibit now under way at the Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego's North campus. (Las Hermanas Iglesias) — Sibling artists Lisa and Janelle Iglesias are featured in "'Las Hermanas Iglesias: wontloversrevoltnow'," an exhibit now under way at the Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego's North campus. (Las Hermanas Iglesias)

Q: This exhibit deals with major aspects of the human experience, from pregnancy and fertility to loss during the pandemic. As curator, what most attracted you to the sisters’ work and why?

A: The origin story of this exhibition is actually a rather personal one for me. Janelle Iglesias and I were introduced in 2020 by a mutual friend who connected us because we were both pregnant during what was an exceedingly complicated moment for pregnant people and their families to navigate. We ended up becoming trusted members of each others’ circles, sharing everything from advice and food to a wonderful caregiver. It was in this context that I also came to know Lisa, and of course their art practice.

My early conversations with Janelle and Lisa really helped me conceptualize what would become ICA’s 2025 exhibition season, “On Healing.” One of ICA’s distinguishing features is our themed exhibition program, which links four exhibitions a year across our two campuses through a common theme. “On Healing” developed out of the COVID-19 pandemic, which not only devastated physical and mental health, but also highlighted the deep political and socio-cultural wounds that continue to damage and divide the American body politic.

Lisa and Janelle were making work that visualized the multilayered realities of caregiving in this country at a moment when many of those in caregiving positions, such as parents, doctors, nurses and teachers, were being confronted with an onslaught of structural and social challenges.

Las Hermanas Iglesias’ collaborative practice has always explored relationality and relationships, both interpersonal and the structural relationships that underpin our social systems, and I found the ways in which they were peeling away the layers of intensity during this fraught time to be so thoughtful and empathetic. I really wanted to expand this conversation to include our wider community.

Q: This particular exhibit will place their work throughout the ICA North campus. What made you decide to use the entirety of the space for this exhibition?

A: The themes, ideas and propositions within Las Hermanas Iglesias’ work build upon themselves, which makes an exhibition like this especially well-suited to the kind of journeying that a campuswide show allows for. Because so much of Janelle and Lisa’s work is about pattern recognition, visual twinning and parallels in objects and language, stretching the experience across two buildings naturally builds in space to process these various connections. Visitors will recognize forms and visual strategies as they move from room to room. It may feel at times like a scavenger hunt, an excavation, or a riddle — and that’s part of the fun!

Q: What do you hope the viewer takes away from seeing “Las Hermanas Iglesias”?

A: My hope is that viewers of this show will recognize the elemental humanness that is at the core of the sisters’ shared practice. Janelle and Lisa’s sensitivity to materials, language and symbols has resulted in a collection of work whose power lies in its balance between accessibility and poetry. “wontloversrevoltnow” also illustrates the incredible power of language. Whether it’s speech or writing, a declaration or conversation, a syllable or an entire dictionary — it’s all made of the same stuff. I hope that all of this resonates and encourages viewers to recognize that sometimes things are exactly as they seem — and sometimes they are so much more.