Me, my twin, and I by Charlie Houle

Portraiture is one way in which identity can be explored. I delved into my identity by focusing on perception, not specifically of myself, but others’ perception of me. ‘Me, my twin, and I’ is both a portrait of my sister and a self-portrait, focusing on the complexity of identity by providing insight into my life as a twin. Although, personally, I never thought that being a twin should affect who I am as an individual, it is a characteristic that continually seems to define me. Despite being two different people with distinct personalities, my sister and I are often grouped together as one person. This is illustrated by the two heads in the portrait that seem to be part of the same body, with mine being downcast and in her shadow. This artwork captures the struggle of possessing a shared identity (being both a twin and an individual) and how it can hinder a person’s sense of self and independence.