Face Value: Looking Beyond Beauty
The ‘Face Value’ exhibit, commissioned by TEDx JaffaWomen, seeks to celebrate the power of women, working for a better world.
Scroll ↓
About the Exhibit
A collaborative exploration of women's empowerment, sexual and social identity, and cultural representation, this exhibit reflects a photographic expression that sits at the intersection of portraiture, editorial, fashion, and documentary work.
Drawing from an evolving canon of critical theory and photography that examines the role of women as subjects—from Laura Mulvey's influential 1975 essay "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema," which introduced the concept of "the male gaze," to contemporary insights from photographers like Rineke Dijkstra and her groundbreaking "Beach Portraits" series (1992-1996)—this exhibit presents a distinctly different creative perspective.
Rather than the elegant yet vulnerable objects of beauty found in Richard Avedon's work, or the fetishized, sexually charged subjects of Helmut Newton's photography, the women in these images (and behind the scenes) are engaged collaborators who actively co-create their own narratives, identities, and presence.
They are celebrated for their complete selves—their strength, beauty, journey and contributions to community—challenging viewers to reassess their own biases, preconceptions and attitudes.
Victoria Benisti ↑
I live in two parallel worlds. In one world, where a fateful moment can change everything, I wear uniforms, fight for lives and deal with chaos. In the second world, I choose a dress, surrender to the lens, make room for my femininity, for the softness and the inner beauty within me. This isn’t a contradiction – this is my completeness
Tali Kasis ↑
I’m a healer, entrepreneur, guide and muse, weaving together energy, intuition and embodiment. I work with women, opening their sacred spaces and wounds, allowing new possibilities to take root. As a model, I bring presence and magnetism, with the beauty of authenticity. I invite others to embody their essence, standing in their power, remembering that they are whole.
Kerem Asiskovich ↑
I’m a master’s student in cancer research at Tel Aviv University, specializing in developing new drugs to treat patients suffering from brain metastases, originating from various cancers. I value teamwork, believing that meaningful work, in such a complex field, can only be achieved through cooperation and a collective effort. I am also an equestrian, diver and licensed skipper.
Sarah Tuttle Singer ↑
I’m a storyteller and mother, living in Jerusalem. I gather fragments of stone, light and memory, shaping them into narratives that reveal the soul of the holy city. I invite others into hidden corners and fleeting encounters, where history lingers and the present shimmers. My voice is both intimate and universal, always grounded in the human experience.
Sarit Ashrovsky ↑
It’s not easy to talk about this, but since the war began, I have served over 350 days in reserve duty, as part of the IDF combat forces. In my day to day life, I’m a tech professional. I love hiking, photography, nature and the sea. A lot has changed over the past two years. I’m trying to get back to some kind of routine.
Special Thanks:
Esther Richter
— Styling & Outfits
Addi Cohen Ziv
— Exhibit Pamphlet Graphic Design