The project The Color of Coal is about grief. My mother passed away when I was fourteen and I don't think
a day could go by without me thinking of her. I wanted to make a very dark series, because of my feelings
of hurt and anger, but I also wanted to incorporate a couple of memories of my childhood (The Color of
Coal as a title also refers to me drawing when I was young). The result is a very grim series, with in every
image a personal story, but for the viewer unimportant because I want people to explore their own
feelings while looking at this series.

The original text for The Color of Coal:

When I look at my old pictures I see a little, happy girl dressed in cute clothes made by my mother. I feel the
warmth of my mom and dad and together we are a perfect little family. I see the untroubled look in
my eyes as I look at the world full of curiosity, not thinking this would ever change.

I wish I still had that view.

Knowing I have to live without my mom makes me sad, angry and afraid. I am really amazed by the beauty
of nature, love and the happy moments in life, but mom hides in all kinds of things around me, every day.
I go nowhere without a little dark cloud above my head that brings a shadow to even the sunniest days.
I’ve been missing her for 3648 days now.