Nobuyoshi Araki, 7 juillet 1971
de la série « Sentimental Journey », 1971 Collection MEP, Paris. Don de la société Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
© Nobuyoshi Araki, courtoisie Taka Ishii Gallery

From March 30th to August 21st, the MEP (Maison Européenne de la Photographie) in Paris is proposing a collective exhibition with a new vision of the history of photography through the prism of intimate relationships between lovers. Bringing together 14 series by some of the most important photographers of the 20th and 21st centuries, the exhibition comprises both masterpieces from the MEP collection and loaned works by important contemporary artists, many of which are exhibited for the first time in Europe.

Nobuyoshi Araki,
Série « Winter Journey », 1989-1990 Collection MEP, Paris. Don de la société Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
© Nobuyoshi Araki, courtoisie Taka Ishii Gallery

At the core of the exhibition, Nobuyoshi Araki and Nan Goldin’s ensembles are the starting point of this new vision of photography. The work of these two photographers is compared with series by other great names, such as Larry Clark, René Groebli, Sally Mann, Leigh Ledare, Hervé Guibert or Alix Cléo Roubaud, as well as from contemporary artists such as JH Engström & Margot Wallard, RongRong&inri, Lin Zhipeng (aka No 223), Hideka Tonomura or Collier Schorr.

Hervé Guibert, Le fiancé II, 1982 Collection MEP, Paris. Don de Christine Guibert
© Christine Guibert

Hervé Guibert, T. au verre de vin, tête penchée, Santa Caterina, 1983 Courtoisie Les Douches la Galerie, Paris
© Christine Guibert

Taking inspiration from Goldin’s ‘Ballad…’ Love Songs is conceived and organized like a musical compilation offered to a lover, with Side A, the first half of the show, made up of series from 1950-1980/90 and Side B, the second half, 1980/90 to now…Taking us through many different stories and scenarios photographed between different couples, from the first days of an affair, through marriages, honeymoons, domestic bliss and the pain of separation, even to the last days shared between loves, the intimacies shared on film are revealed in all their poetry and honesty.

Nan Goldin, Nan and Brian in bed, New York City, 1983
Série « The Ballad of Sexual Dependency »
Collection MEP, Paris
© Nan Goldin / courtoisie Marian Goodman Gallery

More information HERE!