Couples

Couples is a collection of thirty-seven black-and-white photographs, made by Abraham Menashe, that introduces its audience to relationships. The reader will encounter conventional and unconventional couples, depicting innocence, flirtation, romance, primal attraction, fear, sorrow, exhibitionism, uninhibited passion, devotion, and loyalty. The collection, made mostly in a public park, begins with a medley of teens celebrating their budding sexuality and ends with an elderly man belly-laughing with his paralyzed spouse; in-between we witness a variety of provoking partners. Menashe explores how pairs are "bound" to one another-how they sit with, lean on, hold onto, and embrace each other or, simply "fit" together, and he captures the life force that emanates from them. "Through relationships we face our heart-its rich and exhilarating grandeur, as well as its painful limitations-as it seeks to find its stride and beat with another. The photographs put a face on the hunger for connection, paying homage to partners, couples and coupling, and lovers and loving."