Emily Wortel

Other work

Being Naked

Photography, video, society talks (2025)

When I was younger, I encountered many different bodies while drawing nude models at art academy. This taught me to appreciate a wide range of bodies. Everyone has insecurities, but these experiences allowed me to shift my perspective and say: this is my body, and I love it.

My body has changed, because I now have four children. As a mother, I find it important to show them what real people look like. We live in a world where social media largely shapes our perception of what our bodies should look like, and where nakedness is exclusively linked to sexuality.

My photos serve as a counterweight to these unrealistic views and ideas. A way to start a conversation about accepting our bodies, promoting self-love and body positivity, and normalizing nakedness by decoupling it from sexuality. These are direct and honest photos. Powerful and vulnerable at the same time.

This exhibition was shown at Noorderzon 2025, in collaboration with NonFiction Photo. Alongside the exhibition itself, there were Society Talks on the subject.

Photos: Robin Marks

Looking and staring

Video (2025)

I grew up with a younger brother who is blind. His head is also too small in proportion to his body.

That often led to looks and stares that I found hard to bear. I’m also very visually oriented myself, and I find it fascinating to look at people, but I don’t want to be rude. I consciously make sure not to stare.

With this short film, I want to open up the conversation about how we look at each other, how aware we are of that gaze, and how we deal with it. Because people look, and I want to look too. But what happens when that gaze is experienced as inappropriate? What does it do to the person being looked at, and how can we become aware of the effect it has?