With ‘En masse’ Noortje has construed the first mass image, containing several societal themes. By doing so, she hopes to spark a conversation. The example given here is based on equality, which is why she has used all colors of the rainbow, and a varied cast of models of which Noortje herself didn’t know what their genders and profiles were. 

Part of EXHIBITION “IMMENSE – People of the 21st century” at OSTHAUS MUSEUM, Hagen, Germany
https://www.osthausmuseum.de/web/de/keom/aktuell/ausstellungen/seite_240.html 

Excited to take part in the series as a model? Check out Instagram – more coming soon…

Currently looking for women around the theme of  breastcancer.

For another theme, looking for men who’s name is KEVIN.

Fit the profile? find more info via project@noortjepalmers.be

“Where was this photo taken?” It’s a question almost everyone asks me when they see an image from this series. But where the photo was taken is not the point. The real focus should be on who we see in these images.

 

Since the start of this project in 2019, countless people have stood in front of my lens. Through group portraits, I brought together people who all share a connection to a specific, social theme. In three exhibitions : EN MASSE, ALLES VAN WAARDE (at the MAS), and HAGEN, a few of these portraits have so far been shared with a wider audience. 

In my group portraits, I strive for a certain choreographic precision. My aim is to create images that appeal aesthetically to a broad audience. The photographs are stylized, but I prefer to leave in the small imperfections and coincidences. These emphasize the authenticity of my models, who are real people. They contribute not only to the aesthetic but also to the content of my work, because as a photographer I want to draw attention to themes such as identity, body image, inclusion, and social structures. My intention is not to impose judgment, but to break taboos and spark conversation through the images these themes evoke in me.

 

Over the past six years, this project has given me an intimate glimpse into the lives of people who, any other day, might simply disappear into the crowd. I’ve been entrusted with stories of hope, sorrow, but above all resilience. Each mass portrait of people who don’t know one another but share something in common, works in an almost therapeutic way. The participatory nature of my work not only brings people together, it is also for me as an artist and as a person an enormous gift and a constant source of inspiration. With this collection of group portraits from the 21st century, my goal is to give a face to the anonymous masses.

1986: In Chernobyl, one of the most dramatic nuclear disasters in our history unfolded. All of Europe was forced to stay indoors, yet in Belgium the threat to public health wasn’t deemed serious enough to impose such measures. Have the babies of 1986 grown into perfectly healthy adults? When can we be certain that the decisions made back then were the right ones? And what if, today with our growing population and complex future another nuclear disaster were to occur? Does greener energy also carry such hidden risks?

What is a family? What does it mean to you? How do you cope with loss? Could it be discussed more openly? Because “having a baby” unfortunately sounds simpler than it is. Sometimes it goes smoothly, sometimes by accident, and sometimes it doesn’t work out or goes wrong. Even choosing not to have children isn’t a decision that’s made overnight. Fifty-five women, of all shapes, sizes, and ages, are gathered and divided into “everything goes smoothly” and “complex stories.” Women who didn’t experience any difficulties conceiving or during pregnancy are dressed in green, those who did are dressed in red. However, I let them choose the color they preferred to identify with. For example, two women had already changed their color by the time I captured their portraits.

The image demonstrates it: for 1 in 3 people, wanting to have children is a complex journey. Fertility issues largely occur behind closed doors. After all, there’s no bulging belly to reveal anything. Additionally, a “family portrait” was taken of each woman, allowing the context to be shown without too many words. What or who, in what form, is her family?

I remember a moment during the shoot where all the women, each with their own different stories, stood facing the same spot. The moment I asked them across the water to look at me, I felt an energy through the lens that gave me goosebumps. Afterwards, I heard that everyone felt this, this energy, this connection. This is why I’m a photographer; I’ll never forget this image, and it begs for more. A podcast is in the making, and I’ll continue photographing up to 100 families.

Do you have a special story? contact project@noortjepalmers.be

One in five people in Belgium will develop dementia during their lifetime, and some of them will be under 65 and thus have the term “young-onset dementia” plastered on their foreheads. One in five! This doesn’t align with the perception of dementia as something exclusive to nursing homes. But how does life go on when your brain no longer functions as it should?

Everyone knows that dementia means you forget things, even your children or partner. Working on this portrait taught me that you also eventually forget motor skills, like swallowing, writing, or walking… For me, this is perhaps one of the most pure and emotional shoots I’ve ever done. Showing people in their strength, seeing them come alive, photographed together with their caregiver: it was an unforgettable experience for me, for them, and for their caregivers. And even though that might sound a bit naive, I like to believe that what is captured on film cannot be forgotten.

August 31st marks the eve of a new beginning in Belgium. On September 1st, the doors of secondary school open, and these children begin to bridge the gap between childhood and adolescence. After all, it’s not just their school environment that’s changing, but also their bodies. They each go through this evolution at their own pace. You can clearly see this now that they’re lined up in their underwear. But what does that do to their mental state?

I myself was a teenager in a time before social media. I now realize what a luxury that was, compared to these young people who will be able to compare themselves not only to each other, but also to the whole world through their screens. Mental health among teenagers is a more pressing issue than ever. Burnout and depression rates are undeniable. What’s going on in their minds? How do they experience these changes? How do they view the natural changes in their bodies?