• Acrylics on canvas
• Measurements: 80 x 80 cm
• Part of my ‘Alopecia’-series

The story behind this painting:

After two turbulent weeks of hair loss, all the hair was gone. I cut the last pieces. I had lived in a daze during the hair loss, but when I saw those last strands of hair lying on the bathroom floor, I realized that I was really bald. I felt empty and I was only able to look at my hair on the floor in silence… longing and missing. The autoimmune disease Alopecia was later officially diagnosed by a dermatologist. Not life-threatening, but still drastic. No one could tell me if I would ever see my hair back again.

During hair loss, our house was covered with my hair. It was everywhere. I couldn’t throw it away… I just couldn’t give it up yet. That’s why I collected and kept them all. During the sketch of this painting, it was absolutely clear: my fallen hair would get a place of honor. And that idea worked out, because in this canvas some of my ‘old’ strands are incorporated in the painted hair that lies on the floor.