A Smile of Recognition

 I've seen their work for years and admired it, but until I ran across their names in an old New York Times magazine article, I never put all of their work together. They are Adrie and Alfons Kennis, Dutch, and identical twins who produce the most lifelike and humane interpretations of prehistoric humans and other animals.

More than just exceptionally talented artists, they bring a humanity to this subject that I find extraordinary. There have been many others who have done this kind of work. I'm thinking especially of Zdeněk Burian, the Czech artist whose work must have helped inspire these two http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/burian.htm.

But few of them ever thought to have our earliest ancestors smile at us, as if in recognition.

The article describes the twins as "Hyperactive. Like rubber balls." And that energy seems to affect their work, as they fold layers of detail into every wrinkle, pore, and scratch on their figures.

They have also absorbed huge amounts of information about how non-modern societies around the world stand, sit, arrange their hair, paint themselves, and so on.

"All this variation!" Adrien shouted at the author of this article. "It's beautiful!"

After leaving the two, the author wrote, "It only registered later: I had spent the day with identical twins who, since childhood, have been stupified by how different human beings can be."

Here is a link to their website. I could hardly stop looking. http://www.kenniskennis.com/site/Home/