Whether we notice it or not, we are constantly experiencing the world through our bodies. Even if it is as simple as performing cultural rituals, such as prayer, or cooking and sharing meals with our families – every bodily act is also an expression of who we are, where we are from, and what we seek to achieve. In other words, our bodies can serve as a reflection of our identity and the surroundings, cultural systems and experiences that we regularly interact with. The more we seek change or freedom from these systems, the more our bodies also begin to perform actions that are outside of social expectations. For North African and Arab women, the physical body is not explored beyond the purity of the body and maternity (physical experiences such as motherhood, pregnancy, and breastfeeding). Yet other experiences, such as their interaction with the world and the notions of shame, love and freedom, are not expressed or examined. Camelia Chorsi is a Moroccan-Persian artist and healer, whose work focuses on exploring the experience of home within and without the body, the contradictions of shame and love, notions of freedom…
