Chloé van Geffen from Den Bosch was in the national spotlight on June 25 during 'Living Canvas – The Art of Vitiligo', an art manifestation on the Noordermarkt in Amsterdam on the occasion of World Vitiligo Day. 

The event put vitiligo – a skin condition in which pigment disappears from the skin – in a powerful and creative way. As a participant, Chloé literally and figuratively gave a face to a condition that often remains invisible. For example, people with skin conditions such as vitiligo are virtually invisible in art history. They did not fit into the prevailing ideal of beauty – and what you do not see, you do not learn to appreciate or accept. That absence still has an effect: many people with vitiligo feel watched, questioned or excluded. Living Canvas broke this pattern. In historical costumes, participants such as Chloé brought classic paintings to life – this time with room for vitiligo. 

“I was twenty-one when I got my first white spot near my eye,” says Chloé. “In the beginning, it didn’t bother me that much, but I became more aware of it, especially in the summer – the spots stood out and I sometimes got nasty comments. I have now accepted my vitiligo, but I know how difficult that process can be. That’s why I want to do something for others with vitiligo via Vitiligo.nl.” Chloé has also been a board member of the Vitiligo.nl association for two years. 

Visibility that touches

During the event, visitors were given apples, handkerchiefs and letters – small gestures with great symbolism. The handkerchief, once a sign of silent attention, now stood for connection. Each item contained a QR code that linked to the campaign website www.wereldvitiligodag2025.nl, where you can learn more about vitiligo and why representation is so important.

Why June 25?

World Vitiligo Day is celebrated annually on June 25, the anniversary of the death of Michael Jackson – who himself had vitiligo, but rarely spoke about it. That silence continues to this day: vitiligo is visible on the skin, but often remains invisible in the media, art and society. And that is painful, precisely because many people are ashamed of it and withdraw. Living Canvas made visible for one day what has been kept silent for centuries.