I N T R O D U C T I O N

Tea bags are humble pouches that shelter fragments of aromatic leaves. When they are submerged, their bodies swell and release stored life. A treasure of tannins begins to infuse the water with pastel hues, permeating the air with sobering scents. A cup of hot tea in one’s hands warms the soul—a source of solace and reflection.

They are disposed of casually on paper napkins, yet they try hard not to die. Still robust, their moist bodies bleed onto the paper—a kaleidoscope of colors that often goes unnoticed.

Art is autobiographical, and this work is no exception. The images were born after an impassioned affair suddenly ended. That encounter revived me and restored dormant passions.

To pay homage to this lover and all those who energize their partners with new life, I pointed my lens at the compliant tea bag. I collected ordinary and gourmet varieties (rectangular, square, and round ones in many flavors), and photographed them alone and in pairs. I molded some into figures embodying the dance of courtship and union. Here are tea bags expressing joy, seduction, heartbreak, torment, sex, pregnancy, birth, and family.

Despite its ups and downs, I like to believe that love will indeed prevail, and chose to end the series with a triumphant pair, autonomous yet joined as one.

I continued to play, and shaped a second, smaller series into blossoms—these are the last eight in this collection.

When partners honor the gifts received from each other, they can survive the end of their romance. This essay is an affirmation of shared intimacy, celebrating the music of a lover’s body and illustrating the nuances inherent in relationships. The tea bag is used as metaphor—the outer shell for our body; the herbs for our soul; and the string that each dangles dangles from, for the fibers that link us to one another.

I invite you to journey with these tea bags, delight in their whimsical transformations, and let each one be an inspiration for your vivid imagination.

Abraham Menashe