the atlas of beauty

Femeile lumii in 500 de portrete

Pentru ca astazi este 8 Martie si celebram Femeia si frumusetea ei, am vrut sa va prezint aceasta carte-opera de arta. Nu este o carte clasica pentru copii, insa este o enciclopedie a frumusetilor lumii si cred ca este o piesa de colectie din biblioteca oricarei familii iubitoare de carte.
Pe Mihaela Noroc, autoarea ei, nu o cunosc si trebuie sa recunosc ca nici nu auzisem de ea pana la aparitia Atlasului. Citind prezentarea cartii, am aflat ca s-a nascut in 1985 in Chisinau si ca din 1991 s-a mutat impreuna cu familia in Bucuresti. Ca tatal ei este pictor si a fost toata viata inconjurata de frumos si culoare. Lucru care se simte in fotografiile pe care le cauta si reuseste sa le faca si care a fost probabil si resortul care a atras-o in conceperea acestei colectii de portrete. Atlasul Frumusetii a inceput ca proiect personal, dar datorita succesului pe care il aveau fotografiile ei, a devenit un adevarat fenomen international.
Pentru noi, 2 adulti si o fetita de 6 ani, prima rasfoire a cartii a fost emotie. Si iubire, diversitate, caldura. Am putut vedea chipuri atat de minunate si de diferite de cele pe care le vedem in jurul nostru, costume si traditii din peste 50 de tari. Pe care unii dintre noi le pot vizita doar asa, prin intermediul acestor fotografii. Am inteles ca frumusetea nu este doar un standard 90-60-90. Sau cel promovat in mass-media. Ca o femeie poate fi frumoasa si daca poarta proteza sau are 90 de ani.
Ca delicatetea si naturaletea unei mame care isi alapteaza pruncul nu se poate compara cu nimic. Ca desi sunt atat de diferite, toate aceste chipuri sunt frumoase in aceeasi masura. Indiferent daca au fost arse de soare si batute de vant sau alintate si ingrijite cu cele mai delicate creme.
Copilul meu a vazut mame si copii de alta culoare a pielii decat a ei, in mediul lor natural. Relaxati, fericiti, cu bujori in obraji.
Desi are o reactie destul de puternica de respingere a tot ce inseamna “batran”, inca de acum 2-3 ani de cand au inceput si primele intrebari despre moarte, a acceptat sa priveasca si chipurile femeilor ridate sau cu parul alb. Stie ca si mama ei va imbatrani, dar inca nu accepta acest lucru. Vrea mereu sa imi cumpere un sampon al carui reclama a vazut-o la televizor, sa il avem in casa si sa il folosesc repede, repede cand imi vor aparea primele fire de par alb 🙂
Pentru mine faptul ca a acceptat sa priveasca fotografiile unor persoane in varsta a fost cea mai mare bucurie!
Am invatat toti trei sa privim diversitatea si nu doar sa dam pagina, sa intelegem ca exteriorul este reflexia interiorului, a unui suflet frumos, bun si plin de iubire. Ca traditiile sunt inca importante, in unele locuri la fel de mult ca acum sute de ani. Si ca legatura dintre o mama si copiii ei este cea mai frumoasa creatie de pe intregul Pamant.
Ca doar atunci cand suntem noi insine, in mediul nostru natural, unde suntem fericite si apreciate noi femeile radiem si stralucim. Si ca oricum pentru copiii nostri suntem cele mai frumoase. Si astazi este ziua in care sa ne amintim asta si sa ne bucuram de darurile nepretuite pe care deja le avem.

La multi ani Femeie frumoasa, oriunde te gasesti!

Women of the world in 500 portraits

Because today is International Women’s Day and we celebrate the Woman and her beauty, I want to present you a book-work of art. It is a collection of beautiful faces, an encyclopedia that celebrates women, traditions, love, diversity, differences.

The author, Mihaela Noroc, was born in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova and moved at 6 years old in Bucharest with her family. Her father is a painter and she was surrounded by beauty and colors all of her life. And we feel that in the photos that she seeks and takes. The atlas of beauty started as a personal project, but soon her photos were a huge success and the book became an international phenomenon.

For us, two parents and a 6 years old daughter, the book was emotion! And love, warm, tenderness. We could see faces so different from the ones around us, costumes and traditions from 50 countries. That some of us can “visit” only by seing these photos. We understood that beauty is not about the standard 90/60/90. Or the one promoted by mass-media. That a woman can be beautiful even if she has a prosthetic leg or she is 90 years old. That the delicacy and the bond between a mother and her nursing child can’t be compared with anything else. That even if these faces are so different, they are equally beautiful. Even if they are burned by the sun or pampered with the most delicate cream.

My child could see mothers and children that have another colour of the skin than hers. In their natural homeland, relaxed and happy. And even if she has a very strong rejection reaction for all kinds of “old”, she accepted to look at faces of women with wrinkles or white hair. She knows that her mother will age too, but she doesn’t want to accept it yet. She always wants to buy me a shampoo that she saw in a TV commercial to have it in the house, to use it really quick when my first white hair will appear. For me, to see her looking at old women faces on her free will was the greatest joy!

The three of us learned to really see the diversity and not only turn the page when we feel a discomfort. To understand that the exterior is always the reflection of the soul, a beautiful, good and loving soul.

That traditions are still important, in some places in the same way they were hundreds of years ago. And this is a rare and precious thing that needs to be protected, otherwise will perish. That the bond between a mother and her child is the greatest creation on the entire planet.

I learned that only when we are ourselves, in a warm loving enviroment, where we are happy and appreciated, we women are radiant and glowing. And that, no matter what, our children already think that we are the most beautiful. And today, on International Women Day, is the time to remember that and enjoy all the priceless gifts we have in our life.

Happy anniversary beautiful Woman, wherever you are!