02. June 2025
Expo Window

Love Is Timeless. Yuri & Johann

by Rona Bar & Ofek Avshalom
Two older men lie closely embraced on a bed. Above them is the text 'Liebe ist zeitlos / Love Is Timeless. Yuri & Johann'. At the bottom of the window is 'Jüdisches Museum Wien #pridemonth' in colorful letters.
© Stefan Fuhrer

The new JMW Pride Month Expo Window; Design: Fuhrer, Vienna

The Jewish Museum Celebrates Pride Month!

 
On display in the museum’s Expo Window are intimate portraits of Yuri and Johann – an Israeli-Austrian couple living in Vienna. These elegant photographs come from the series Us (2020–2023), created by London-based photographer duo Fotómetro – Rona Bar and Ofek Avshalom. Below you will find the artists’ statement about how this photo series came to life. Particularly through the portraits of Yuri and Johann, the artists clearly demonstrate that love is timeless – for everyone.  

Older couple embracing in bed: Two older men lying in bed side by side, both shirtless, one wearing dark shorts, the other gray shorts, closely embracing.
© Fotómetro – Rona Bar & Ofek Avshalom
Older men embracing on a bed: Two older shirtless men sit closely hugging each other on a bed in a dimly lit room
© Fotómetro – Rona Bar & Ofek Avshalom
Yuri & Johann in their home, Vienna, 2022; 

Artists’ Statement

 
The series Us was Inspired by our personal relationship, which blossomed during the Covid-19 lockdown. For over three years, we photographed couples in their homes, around Israel, Europe, and the UK. Our aim is to represent couples that are often overlooked by mainstream media, by making the invisible - visible.
 
For us, the most special thing about this project is the experience of witnessing love, intimacy, and acceptance between the couples, which goes beyond social norms, gender, body image, disabilities, age, culture, etc. Each time we left a couples’ house after a shoot, we felt very lucky, inspired, and mostly thankful for the chance to witness and commemorate all of that through our photography.
 
Yuri and Johann were the last couple we photographed for this project. Yuri is Israeli, and Johann is Austrian. They met in Vienna, where they live now.