Driven by the desire for both hiding and being seen, the theme of revealing and concealing overarches my work. Departing from the urge to escape eye-contact when passing by strangers in public space in fear of encapsulating judgement, I spent last year researching complications experienced around the expectations one places upon the self through others and published this research in a limited edition, titled Escaping the Gaze.

In line with this theme, I often find inspiration embedded in hair. I am interested in what it means to me and those around me; how do we relate to our own hair, and how do we relate to that of others? What prejudices and expectations are cast upon physicality and what role does hair play here?

For example, I recently created a new sculpture fusing long grey hair and a shower head, exploring a dilemma arising upon women who choose to keep their hair long after a certain age. Doing so isn't as straightforward as it sounds, as both social judgement and decrease of hair quality may endanger the possibility of long locks. Making the cut might show to be a permanent decision, whereas when keeping the
hair long, external pressure remains as much as the option of going short. As this dilemma unfolds, the hair remains a focal point especially when showering and nurturing it, as hair and water merge and make their way for the shower drain.

Valuing ‘the real’ over representation for its ability to connect to lived experience, it is logical for me to incorporate pre-existing objects into my work. As a result, it most frequently takes the shape of assemblage.

Rio Drop (b. 1992, Vlaardingen, the Netherlands) obtained her Bachelor's degree from the Royal Academy of Fine Art The Hague. After graduating in 2022, she relocated to Örebro, Sweden, where she previously received foundational artistic training.