With her exhibition “Come as you are”, Laetitia Bica celebrates the freedom to create, to exist, but above all to be yourself.
From May 23rd to September 6th, photographer Laetitia Bica takes us on a journey through her colourful and committed world. “Joy and freedom” is what the Belgian artist wants visitors to feel from her exhibition “Come as you are”. Based in the cultural center MAD – short for Mode And Design (Fashion and Design) in Brussels, the exhibition brings together a series of photos of 25 performers: dancers, drag artists, DJs, make-up artists and actors.
All are part of Bica’s entourage. “I collaborate with people who work with their bodies. What I like is young creation, and when there’s nothing commercial at stake – just pure expression and creation.” The photos are all portraits with vivid and expressive colours. Once you dive into the exhibition, a feeling of freedom is expressed in the model’s expression but also through their posture and presence.
The shooting session, which she likes to call a “workshop”, took place over one month at the MAD center, during which the photographer worked with the models to create the image they themselves wanted to portray. “Nothing is written down. We had the idea of metamorphosis, mutation, and the inter-species aspect. Those were the broad outlines and intentions we had during the shoot. When the models arrived, we let them do a lot. They didn’t decide entirely, but it was a conversation. They chose looks that we wouldn’t necessarily have guessed.”
The models were totally involved in the creation of their image. As we spoke, Laetitia explained why this cooperation is essential for her. “We work together, I have a desire to photograph people – they’re not objects. The most important thing is that the photograph has to satisfy the person being photographed.”
Beyond the creative process, the way we look at bodies inspires Laetitia Bica in her work. Through her lens, the photographer aims to bring representation to the fore. For her, the relationship we have with our body affects everyone, especially since we all have social media. “We live in a society where we need to be validated and standardised. We express ourselves through social media, but this image is shaped. That’s the whole point of this exhibition, to show the models as they want to represent themselves, as they’re in the moment. Working without planning ahead means that on another day, it would have been another photo. We’re not here to please anyone except ourselves.”
Having worked in the fashion industry for 20 years, Bica has seen representation evolve over the years. “When I started it was impossible to have representations of fat bodies, bodies of colour or disabled bodies. There was a very strict standard on bodies. Height, thinness, non-disabled. There was only one existing box and there were no other possible boxes.”
According to Bica, representing diversity is essential – but it’s not enough. You also have to include it, to make everyone feel invited. “I can’t be concerned with every type of body. That’s why working with and in cooperation with people allows them to have their say and the construction of their image – we build it together.”
This matter of representation is not new, we hear about it every year, and yet the battle is never won. The latest figures on the representation of plus-size models at London Fashion Week prove the point. Plus-size model representation at London Fashion Week rose from 67 in February 2024 to 80 by September 2024. The numbers have dropped considerably since then. In February 2025, with over 40 designers and 1,600 runway looks, only 26 models were plus-size.
The fight for representation is never a settled cause. As Bica says, we’re not even talking about a minority. “Most people aren’t 6 feet tall and skinny.” In a world saturated with images in which bodies are categorised, Come as you are is another way of looking – and of being looked at. Representing yourself is not just about showing off; it’s about appropriating your body and your image. And if there’s one thing that runs through her work, it’s the commitment that Laetitia Bica brings to her exhibition – both to her art and to the people she photographs. A passionate and generous vision, as she puts it herself: “What I love about artists is when their dedication is as great as their talent. For me, it’s inseparable.”
Through her lens, Laetitia Bica minds us that visibility and representation are essential to feel included and valued. She doesn’t just show people – she shows how they want to be seen. And that’s what we should remember when leaving the exhibition – being able to be ourselves means nothing if representation is not around. Even if the latest figures from London Fashion Week prove how long and unpredictable the way to inclusion is, by raising awareness, artists like Laetitica Bica are playing their part everyday in deconstructing society’s expectations on our bodies. To anyone who is ready to experience others differently, her work is everything we need to see.
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