ROSIE ABLEWHITE, Lincoln

Last Updated: 6 January 2010 616 views 4 Comments Posted by: B-Side Empire

Name: Rosie Ablewhite

University: University of Lincoln

Course: Fine Art

“Facing the Other in the guise of twin or double, we sense a
threat to our idea of personal identity, yet we are teased and
delighted by the odd prospect of becoming ‘otherwise’.”
- John Lash, Twins and the Double

“My practice focuses on ‘the double’ and identical twins in particular, since I am one myself. My work also touches on multiples, mirrors, optics, opposites and symmetry, adjoining to the original concept of ‘the double’.

In using photography and video to document the work, the process of the medium requires the original image to be captured and then multiplied, reproduced again for the purpose of display. Using simple black and white imagery shows further use of duality. In this work two identical twins stand side by side, one arm around each other looking straight ahead with straight faces. The figures look ghostly, supernatural, as if something about twins is not completely earthy. There is a timeless mystery about twins and their unspoken connections between them remain uncertain. Only together, being both ‘one’ and ‘two’, they stand apart from their surroundings, as is literally shown in this site specific life sized projection. There is a suspense and edginess to the experience.

To produce most of my work I need to use my twin. Occasionally twins work collaboratively in art to produce work that focus around their twinship. Jane and Louise Wilson\’s early work uses both themselves and their connection to one another in the form of photography and video.

My intentions are to fascinate and confuse the audience as they become hypnotised by the image, as they are allowed to stare. The audience is left to wonder whether they will suddenly change or do something unexpected.”