Guesswho : Chenxin Luo and Chenyi Luo
Guess Who is a dynamic twin creative team based in New York City, formed by Chenxin Luo and Chenyi Luo. As graduates of Pratt Institute, the duo brings a fresh and innovative perspective to the fields of illustration and graphic design, infusing their work with a unique blend of individuality and collaboration. Their artistic journey is deeply rooted in their shared experiences as twins, allowing them to explore themes of identity, connection, and the complexities of human relationships through their creative practice. With a focus on capturing the nuances of interpersonal dynamics, their illustrations often depict the delicate balance between closeness and independence, reflecting both their personal bond and a broader exploration of human connection. At the heart of Guess Who’s work is a passion for storytelling and a desire to connect with audiences on a deeper level. Through their art, Chenxin and Chenyi invite viewers to reflect on their own relationships and the invisible threads that bind us all together.
Artist Statement
Emotions: In this series, we explore the often unseen, yet deeply felt emotions that many experience in social interactions. Through these works, we seek to capture the awkwardness, the fear, and the pervasive sense of anxiety that can overwhelm us in moments of connection. The pieces reflect on the internal battles we face—being afraid to speak up, the weight of the imagined "spotlight effect," and the vulnerability that comes with simply being around others.
Tea Party – Glimpse of Inseparability: This work features twin foreground characters and a tea party held in a parlor with a stage set. Human existence itself can be seen as a heterotopian space, as it is simultaneously open and closed, perceived by others as "otherness" apart from oneself. This artwork stems from our recognition and exploration of our twin identity. Twins, being physiologically similar and interdependent individuals, are often regarded as a unique presence in society. This has a certain connection to the concept of heterotopia. Just as heterotopia is considered a space that transcends conventional societal norms, twins are also seen as possessing their own unique world. The curiosity of the outside world toward twins is akin to the curiosity toward heterotopia, both driving people to seek to peek into and explore this special existence.
The Gaze from the Otherworldly: This work is a still-life painting depicting several fruits and women's lingerie hanging and lying in the foreground and background casually. The heterotopia is a space full of fantasy. It can be an aspiration for an ideal society or a fantasy for an ideal state. This work emphasizes the fantasies projected by men onto the female group. Women in male fantasies are often idealized, embodying societal expectations, becoming the heterotopia in men's minds. In today's society, fruits are also often associated with female characteristics, such as body types being categorized as "apples," "pears," and "bananas," reinforcing men's idealized fascination and desire. By juxtaposing seemingly unrelated or contradictory items like fruits and women's lingerie in the artwork, it portrays an ambiguous space that leads to infinite imagination.
https://guesswho.studio
