Still Lovers [Anglais] [Relié]

The private bond between "life-sized, synthetic sex dolls" and their owners is something rarely witnessed by outsiders, so the photographs in this book are likely to titillate-and possibly shock- viewers, despite Dorfman's decidedly neutral approach to her subjects. Clearly, these made-to-order dolls are primarily constructed for gratification, yet the photographs tell stories that are much more complex, disturbing-and at times-familiar. Whether it's the man on the lawn, pecking away at his laptop as his fully clothed doll lies quietly beside him or the man drinking his morning coffee while slyly eyeing his doll, sprawled suggestively nearby, the photographs reveal the power of the human imagination and its role in achieving and sustaining what could be loosely defined as "happiness." This collection, which features predominately male owners, strives to convince viewers that doll owners grow to "love" these inanimate objects; however it is unlikely that your typical viewer will reach this rather lofty conclusion, largely due to Dorfman's calculated distance from her subjects.
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A fascinating, serious, and shocking glimpse into an alien realm, these are art photos of the complex relationships between sex dolls and their owners. These are not kitschy inflatables, but life-sized expensive, highly realistic dolls, customized to the smallest detail. Dorfman’s deft treatment of the subject and neutral color palette keep the images grounded in documentary tradition, neither prurient nor fantastic. Viewers can believe in the owners’ vision of these dolls as free objects of relation from this candid and non-judgmental approach. The dolls become sculptural beauties, sex kittens, companions, and family members. A woman owns several dolls representing different aspects of her personality. A military officer dreams of marrying his Rebecca. A family goes about their morning routine as Valentine sits at the table in a demure cardigan and straw hat. These photos are as riveting and culture-shifting as those of Diane Arbus.

Elena Dorfman is a fine art and magazine photographer who documents extreme circumstances and unusual subjects. Her work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Marie Claire, GQ and Elle, and her books include Here & Now and The C-word: Teenagers and Their Families Living with Cancer. She is exhibited widely in the US. Represented by the Edwynn Houk Gallery in New York, her images are in the collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Elisabeth Alexandre is an editor at French Marie Clair.