Twin sisters Liesbeth and Angelique Raeven (*1971), alias L.A.Raeven, do not go with the flow. They are fascinated by the image of the body in systems of representation, mass media, and science.

 

The use of twins for medical research is a recurrent research point in their practice. Josef Mengele’s (1911-1979) studies and experiments with twins during World War II deeply shocked them, but at the same time they also triggered their interest in that type of research. As a result, they started to work with files partly based on the files Mengele used to compare pairs of twins, and on the “anamnesis” admission forms used in hospitals. The procedures they follow have remained unchanged over the years. When something in society draws their attention, they first try to establish the reason why. They look for scientific reasons before giving their subjective judgment in film or installation.

 

Everything centers on the question of why they look the way they do. What is determined by their genes and what is determined by ther milieu? And how can they change that? Taking themselves as the starting point is the leitmotif of their work. As twins, they are confronted with these issues more than others.  Tirelessly and unremittingly, they address the question “how do I become a unique individual?” and the problems to which it gives rise.

 

They have presented their work internationally across exhibitions in institutions like Brutus, Rotterdam; Structura Gallery, Sofia; Museum Arnhem; Casino Luxembourg; Museum for Contemporary Art Belgrade; Stedelijk Museum Schiedam; The Ludwig Museum, Budapest; Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht; and Coda Museum, Appeldoorn, among others. 

 

Their work is in public collections such as Bonnefanten museum, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, Fries Museum, Rijksmuseum Twenthe, Museum Arnhem, FRAC Nord Dunkerque, and Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art.