Second edition of Plaukai by Francesca Allen (2025) Small format paperback in new condition In a limited edition of 200 copies Self-published From an interview with It's Nice That “Hair is so deeply tied to identity and in many cultures it is viewed as sacred,” says Francesca. “I was never allowed to grow my hair long when I was younger, so it has always felt like this forbidden act of rebellion.” Inspired by a photo she saw online of a Lithuanian long hair contest in 1992, the idea percolated until Francesca was able to link up with a Lithuanian friend and shoot the event in person, still going strong after three decades. Francesca plays with colour and monochrome, the former illuminating the personalities of the contestants whilst the latter evokes a strange creepiness seen in hair-themed horror movies such as Bad Hair and Exte, which explore cultural ideas around girlhood, a central topic in Francesca’s work. “I’m constantly exploring different ways of experiencing girlhood and being a woman, and all of the unique interpretations of that,” says Francesca.
