Bifocal view of relationships

Professional partnerships, like those of a more personal nature, are rarely entirely equal. Despite the fact that great things usually occur as a result of teamwork, figureheads rarely come in twos. Who thinks of Will Whitehorn when they see the Virgin logo? Or Tord Grip when the England football team run on to the pitch?

This new NPG exhibition couples up in front of the camera both halves of some of Britain's best dynamic duos. So, there's Sven and Tord - the two Swedes responsible for England's footie hopes; Michael Grade with his PA of 13 years, Ros Sloboda; Private Eye's editor Ian Hislop and cartoonist Nick Newman; and Richard Branson with Will Whitehorn - Virgin's brand development director.

What could have proved simply a collection of men in suits is transformed into something more visually interesting by the inclusion of some colleagues who are also friends - Darcey Bussell and Lindsay Taylor - and some who are lovers - Jay Joplin and Sam Taylor-Wood.

Seen together, the impact of the images derives almost entirely from the body language of the subjects; in some cases stiff, in others at ease and in a few, delightfully ambiguous. Thus, the chief executive and executive director of Arcadia Group plc mirror each other's diversionary tactics; Branson and his sidekick sit on a bench, hands and legs crossed identically; while the Scott brothers - Ridley and Tony - try to outdo each other in the 'I'm so casual' stakes. Best, perhaps is the Joplin/ Taylor- Wood series, where the art dealer and artist/husband and wife team begin as two professionals sitting side by side before blurring the intersection of life and work provocatively, as Sam lies semi-naked, sprawled across Jay's lap.

Managing Partners is a Management Today exhibition, in association with BT, and is on until June 30, National Portrait Gallery , St Martin's Place WC2, daily 10am to 6pm (Thu and Fri to 9pm), free.
Tel: 020 7306 0055Tube: Leicester Square/ Charing Cross