Twinhood
Published in Vanguard magazine
Paynter Twins
The creation of identity can be challenging. Unified, undivided and indistinct are lenses through which society commonly perceives identical twins, often considered to be the same, or a singular unit. Twins tend to perpetuate that view due to their closeness in bond, which from an outsider's perspective can appear as a lack of distinctive individual identity. As the Paynter Twins, we are proud individuals and yet together our bond enhances our effervescence - it is a unique bond that allows us to pursue our own creative avenues, yet unify when desired for stylistic outcomes - Thomas’ career focus being dance, Harry’s as music; together, modelling.
Through Daria Szotek’s lens, our identities have been extracted and visualised in an individualistic way whilst staying true to the ideology of our creative and familial bonds. As Daria says:
“I have been inspired to direct and photograph this project drawing inspiration from the prevalence and individuality of the multiple sets of identical twins of my family: my mother, auntie and two uncles. To simplify twins as identical is to dilute their personal identities from two to one. Through this project, I wanted to celebrate the beauty in a physical bond of shared appearance and at the same time, challenge the preconceptions limiting the twin’s individuality. In these photographs, the magic of working with the Paynter Twins can be seen in their contrasting personalities and expressions.”
Pious John, the stylist says:
“On a daily basis we do end up twinning clothes with others , maybe someone on the train, work , market or places you are at and you come across people twinning. But imagine being an identical twin for a lifetime. It’s a beautiful bond to cherish. I picked out pieces that would bring out the individual characteristics which are not physically seen because they may seem to look identical but their choices can/can’t be the same. For example, the interest in profession, food, music, movies, people would differ among the twins and that’s exactly what I have tried to show through the styling, by making choices portraying them as two different individuals that look identical.”
Throughout this photographic series the expression within these images relies on the internalised duality to express symmetry and differentiation from an outsiders’ lens.
Symbolism is found throughout; hands are employed to obstruct one twin’s view (Image - page 5) demonstrating that we view the world through the prism of a unified perspective, originating in childhood as we create and are exposed to the same set of shared cultural frames of reference. Contrasting focal points represent our individual creative lanes in later images. And ultimately the choice of garments, styled by Adam Pallil, play with contrast, tone, and pattern to accentuate the combinational contrast of difference and symmetry.
The current creative climate provides a very exciting time for twins and multiples in the artistic world as it comes at a time familial and visual symmetry transcends upon fashion, entertainment, and music. The Paynter Twins were part of Gucci Twinsburg Portrait Series by Mark Peckmezian where 107 sets of twins descended on Milan to partake in the Gucci Twinsburg campaign. With Alessandro Michele citing “asymmetrical reciprocity” as the founder of “the deepest of twinships”, with reference to his mother’s relationship with her identical twin. Elsewhere twins have also been heavily featured in Sunnei’s SS23 fashion show, BBC3 and Netflix’s ‘Glow Up’ and a myriad of musical and creative outlets.
The Team:
Photographer & Creative Director: Daria Szotek
Models: The Paynter Twins
Stylist: Pious John
Photography assistant: Matthew Jennett
