Isabelle Lynch (left) and her twin sister, Sophie (right), will be an exhibit in “Pop Life,” an installation at the National Gallery of Canada.
Their matching physicality and passion for the palette have landed two identical twin sisters from Centretown a spot in this summer’s blockbuster art exhibit.
Isabelle and Sophie Lynch have spent years travelling to chic metropolises such as New York and London to view the world’s greatest artwork and galleries, while also attending an arts secondary school – De La Salle on Old St. Patrick Street.
But they never expected to become the art themselves, especially for prominent British artist Damien Hirst.
The 20-year-old Lynch girls will be incorporated into the Pop Life: Art in a Material World exhibition beginning this June at the National Gallery of Canada – the only North American stop on its world tour.
The two will participate in Hirst’s restaged segment as living elements acting completely in sync.
They and other identical pairs will spend four-hour shifts beneath the artist’s work doing regular activities, such as knitting or playing chess.
“I think it’s a bit controversial because it’s kind of the idea that we’re objectifying ourselves and turning ourselves into props, which many people wouldn’t like,” says Isabelle, who studies philosophy and art history with her sister at the University of Ottawa.
“This exhibit is just about pop art and what’s more pop art than turning yourself into art?”
The contemporary art exhibition at the National Gallery is a collaboration with the Tate Modern art museum in London.
It includes works from Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, and other internationally acclaimed artists who stepped out of the starving-artist box, made controversial statements, and earned piles of cash while doing it.
The show is the gallery’s first summer exhibition presenting contemporary art.
“It’s quite a key undertaking for the National Gallery to venture into new territory,” says Jonathan Shaughnessy, co-ordinating curator of the show.
“All of these artists are crossing lines of what fine art is supposed to be. They’re embracing realms of popular culture you’re not supposed to embrace.”
The twin display will be a recreation of Hirst’s 1992 exhibit for which he commissioned a set of twins named Ingo and Torsten to act identically in front of his trademark paintings.
After a couple of record-breaking auction items in recent years, Hirst is now reputed to be the richest living artist.
Isabelle came across Hirst’s resurrected twin piece while surfing the Tate Modern’s website and phoned the National Gallery hoping for an opportunity in Ottawa.
After submitting photographs of their likeness, she and Sophie were the first twins to be chosen for the local show and are pictured in the Gallery’s twin search advertisement.
During their shifts, the two plan to read some of their favourite books symmetrically, but are open to other performances.
“We basically can do anything we like, as long as we’re doing the same thing. We can braid each other’s hair if we want,” says Isabelle.
“It’s going to be very difficult for us just to sit there, but we can interact with people, which will be interesting and fun.”
Sophie says she is proud to work in conjunction with so many household names, especially Warhol who “took charge of the commercial aspect of his art.”
Among the exhibition’s 250 paintings, videos and other media produced over the last 30 years, other captivating pieces include Koons’ stainless-steel rabbit based on a novelty toy and a colourful portrait of Wayne Gretzky created by Warhol.
The National Gallery is still looking for twin applicants that are aged 18 or over and identical in stature, height and appearance.
Pop Life runs at the National Gallery from June 11 to Sept. 9.