Beauty

Perceiving and capturing the beauty of art is different for each viewer and is affected by their understanding of the world. The existence of a beauty standard has been created due to a social and cultural construction, where aesthetics are purely superficial rather than internal. in the case of women’s beauty, it has always been based on the standards and trends of the moment. Thanks to movies, television, pornography, magazines and now social networks have caused even more focus on beauty directed towards women. This not only provokes the objectification of women, but also generates low self-esteem in girls and women from an early age, as it is impossible for them to reach this standard. Generation after generation the same behavior has been reproduced and perform in order to be beautiful, causing in turn a competition between women and as a result a misogynist society. Recently, a significant change has been noticed that has allowed women to unite instead of separate, managing to deconstruct this type of misogynist behavior.

Many female artists touch the theme of beauty and the body. Alejandra Hernandez, a colombian painter depicts the natural beauty of women through her different perceptions of the world. She express that beauty can be related to the inner spiritual world working as a mirror for the outer physical one. As viewers, we can observe that she represents not just the women’s beauty, but as well her sexuality and the inclusivity of different women.

Hernandez does not follow any beauty standard in order to represent the natural women’s body and the notion of self acceptation. Often society tend to judge just by the physical appearance, disregarding the most important that is the inner self. As well we can observe a relation with the fruits, that can work as a celebration for the women’s body and her sexuality.

As women, we have to face the reality of the world and its influences, the social constructions has so much power on us. However, we have to accept ourselves the way we are in order to do not follow the rules of the society. Everything starts since you are a girl, or the way you educate your children. This beauty standard has to be deconstruct to stop the consequences of it, such as misogyny, low self esteem and eating or mental problems.