Long a source of fascination, twins have often been the subject of myths and legends, starting with the ancient figures of Remus and Romulus. Twins can share the exact same DNA, tastes, habits, and have eerily similar life experiences. But in his latest work, the American photographer Martin Schoeller is attempting to juxtapose portraits of physically identical individuals in order to tell the difference between them.
With an almost supernatural style—sharp close-ups, striking details, blurry backgrounds—Schoeller sheds a light on each subtle aspect of the twins’ faces, inviting the viewer to question the appearances and identities of the subjects before them. The work brings together nearly 200 pairs of twins photographed in the studio over the course of 2012. The idea for the project came to Schoeller after a commission from National Geographic published last January. With this modern approach to the image, Identical is a clinical study in the mysteries of natural resemblance.
Jonas Cuénin
Identical, Portraits of Twins
By Martin Schoeller
Foreword by Marina Abramovic
132 pp., hardcover with jacket
110 color photographs, 5 gatefolds
Text in English, German, and French
USD 75.00
ISBN : 978-3-8327-9664-8
In France, Martin Schoeller is represented by A. Galerie (12 rue Léonce Reynaud – 75116 Paris)
