I grew up with a twin. Most people can´t tell us apart, even people who have known us for a long time. We are fraternal twins, and we are very similar. I have struggled my entire life with the doubt of where I end, and she begins. I can´t seem to find my own identity and my singularity as a human. I am not sure if she is the original or if I am. It feels like a dream where its hazy and you can´t remember exactly how the events turned out.  

 

I have done some explorations working with body parts, skin and fingerprints using a macro lens to be able to go deep into the skin. I was using the dents in the skin as a map to investigate myself. I also explored the possibility of editing the same person together and making it look as if everyone had a twin. The other explorations were in using paint to put fingerprints all over certain images. In the end I decided to work with varied materials, skin like textures and see-through paper to achieve a certain layering between images of me and my sister and various parts of our skin interconnecting. I used thread to sew parts of my sister into my face and the other way around, this simbolizing how I feel, as if I some parts are my and some parts are her. The use of of diferrent materials in the work determine the difference between me and her. 

 

My exploration with this project is to find my uniqueness, even if we do look alike; where is the authentic Daniela? How can I find the difference between me and my sister, and how can I express the differences? While trying to find out individuality, I find myself codependent with this relationship. I always have a constant feeling that something is missing from my life, even when we get to spend time together. 

 

In my experience, being a twin is both a gift and a curse. I don´t think there is a deeper connection between humans than the one forged between two individuals growing together in the womb, connection can also be difficult when you grow up feeling you are never unique. Who am I? Who is my sister? What does it mean to be a twin? I still have all of this questions, can I find and answer? Will I ever feel unique?