Expo Come As You Are by photographer Laetitia Bica
From May 23rd until September 6th
Come as you are. For Brussels-based photographer Laetitia Bica, this goes without saying. As an artist, she does not let herself be limited by rules or clichés, always offering her audience a unique perspective. Her colourful photos are the result of artistic, intimate and emotional encounters.
Through this exhibition at MAD Brussels, the centre for fashion and design, Bica highlights not only individual expression, but also the power of the collective. Her images tell stories about fascinating beauties, otherness and the human body. The expo invites the public to become part of this shared narrative and discover the many facets of human expression.
For an entire month, Bica set up a photo studio at MAD Brussels where she brought up to 15 individuals in front of her lens. Her temporary studio became a space for creation, exchange and experimentation. Nothing was fixed beforehand, and nothing will be afterwards. Bica gives herself the freedom to enter into dialogue with her models, making each image a universe of its own. Her intuitive and collaborative approach blurs the boundaries between scenography and reality. For this series, she brought together a diverse group of performers: dancers, drag artists, DJs, make-up artists and actors. Throughout the pictures, they each put their individuality and expression centre stage. The Belgian designs they wear function as a second skin, while performance, make-up and special effects reinforce their identity.
Some of the personalities Bica brought in front of her lens include actress Daphne Agten, model Catherine Mattelaer, Drag Couenne and performer Arno Verbruggen. The pictures play with contrasts: punk and kitsch flirt with drama and poetry. Each of the people portrayed wears creations by Belgian and Brussels fashion designers, showing in their own way what fashion means to them. Designs by Eunji Oh, Julien Houdremont and Tom Van Der Borght, among others, can be spotted in the images.
"De werelden die we zelf verzinnen zijn ook realiteiten die ons leven op een collectieve manier verrijken." - Laetitia Bica
About Laetitia Bica
Laetitia Bica grew up in Liège and studied at the ESA Saint-Luc. As a professional photographer, she explores different fields, from editorial to fashion to video clips, and works in constant collaboration with stylists, designers, musicians and choreographers. She has taken part in many international festivals and biennials, such as Circulation(s) in Paris, BIP in Liège, UNSEEN in Amsterdam and FOTODOK in Utrecht. In 2023, she was the winner of ‘Changemaker of the Year’ at the Belgian Fashion Awards.
Her artistic practice is based on constant research and experimentation. During her residencies, including at Villa Noailles in Hyères, RAVI in Liège and Het Huis in Utrecht, she combines visual research with spatial installations. Her work revolves around the creation of images, focused on the idea of revealing and exposing. Her creative process is constantly evolving, as she explores the connection between art, the environment and social issues.
Laetitia Bica's plural approach manifests itself in a singular visual language. Her portraits and landscapes take on a new kind of materialism and vibrant colours, the characters and landscapes blur the line with our reality. Laetitia Bica's approach is rooted in a contemporary world populated by recurring references to the sacred, the decay and the sea: the evolution of forms, the matrix of life, organised chaos and subversive elegance.
Participating designers: Adam Denzler, Carla Lazaro, Chloe Ucedo, Clara Besnard, Eunji Oh, Etienne Madamet, Flora Miranda, Florent Seligman, Igor Dieryck, Hortense Tillet, Jessica Cotte, Julien Houdremont, Kais Masood, Luna-Isola Bersanetti, Manlio Fasce Fernandez, Marie Scerri, Marguerite Tenot, Mauricio Cabrera Lozano, Maud Brunstein, Muriel Nisse, Pauline Haumont, Peiwen Mao, Sander Bos, Tom Van Der Borght and Judith Trefaut.
Participating models: Arno Verbruggen, Naomi Waku, Morphae, Drag Couenne, Christina Guieb, Catherine Mattelaer, Daphne Agten, Nançy Naser Al Deen & Mbunga Kongi Milka, Nour Beetch & Nicky Lapierre ans Alice Forsberg, Alexandra Siebert, Patricia Cala from Ateliers Indigo.
Practical information
23.05.2025 - 06.09.2025: Come As You Are
The exhibition takes place at MAD Brussels: Nieuwe Graanmarkt 10, 1000 Brussels. The exhibition is open to the public free of charge from Wednesday to Saturday from 11am to 6pm.
Images can be downloaded immediately by clicking on the images in the press release. For more information or interview requests, please contact: