Beijing-based Gao Rongguo photographs identical twins in middle age:
According to Confucius, 50 is the age when people begin to understand their fate. In an effort to visually explore this concept, Beijing-based photographer Gao Rongguo created this contemplative series, entitled Identical Twins, in which he photographs twin brothers and sisters from the Shandong province, where the artist grew up. The project features a portrait of each twin placed side-by-side so that it appears as if the two are standing face to face. The contemplative series invites viewers to consider the differences between individuals, even those as similar as identical twins, and to explore how the world can alter both the inner self and the outward appearances of people throughout life.
Alyssa Coppelman elaborates:
With this project, Gao calls into question the idea of astrology, that two people born at exactly the same time, with identical DNA, end up with completely different personalities, interests, and in fact have entirely different fates. While it is apparent that the subjects are identical twins, the sometimes miniscule, sometimes more obvious, differences between them create a poignant document of humanity and individual human determination.
More work from Rongguo here.
The Dish 