Especially Able – A celebration of love for Down syndrome

A guest post by Rod Yazbek, Plastic Artist. 

Rod is Brazilian artist and is passionate about people with Down syndrome. He has created an exhibition, where they are pictured acting in the most ordinary activities, such as theater, dance, sports, etc.  Part of the proceeds go to Olga Kos, an organisations in São Paulo that supports people with Down syndrome.  Rod shares his story with us.

Introduction

Down syndrome is a genetic difference, however, in most cases the prejudice is greater than the condition. Parents new to a prenatal diagnosis may need more help than the child that is coming to be born. It maybe necessary to have more support, but also to take care to not give an excessive level of care and protection. Despite some differences, the child should not be the centre of the family, but part of it as everyone else.

Concept

All people should be looked at as who they are and by the potential that can develop as they are able, they can attend college, work, sports and express their impressions of the world through art and other things.

Following this line of reasoning, the artist developed his collection, illustrating these people acting in several activities of daily living. For him, this syndrome is not an issue, but a difference that simply makes them “especially able”.

The first exhibition

What sparked this idea?

In March 2013, I watched the feature film, movie COLLEAGUES Marcelo Galvão. It is the first Brazilian film starring actors with Down syndrome. I did theater for 9 years, I know the difficulties, and how important it is to donate to the companion scene. The accuracy of the interpretation of each of them impressed me, and my interest in despetou reality of Down syndrome, which until then was unknown to me.

The more I read, the more I fell in love. After I painted my first screen in February this year (I painted my friend, the Brazilian actor Saul Meneghetti), discovered a new gift (because I never studied arts), a way to express my love for people with Down syndrome.

I was lucky to have the support of my sponsor, the famous actress and jewelry designer Kristhel Byancco.

A woman activist and head of several social causes, reading the exhibition project created by me, she did not hesitate to embrace this cause, giving me space in her event DESIGNERS IN ART, which happened in the first week of August, the upscale neighborhood of Sao Paulo, Jardins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The importance of this question is beyond the social inclusion that already happens around the world, but also in boosting other artists to illustrate people with Down syndrome in a tender and beautiful way, being part of our society, are so worthy of being portrayed as ordinary people that inspire artists.

I created this design in the broadest sense of the divine company in the world of Down syndrome. They need to be recognised for their countless potential, received as ordinary members of society, and giving to each his due, and precious importance.

My dream is to collaborate to this colourful world of Down syndrome, walking with this ideal maximum favouring the organisations that support social inclusion.

An extra chromosome, which make them “ESPECIALLY ABLE”.

Rod Yazbek

 

A little about the Artist 

 

 

Rod Yazbek, is 24 years old, born in São Jose dos Campos – São Paulo – Brazil.

He never studied art, began to start their development in drawings (graphite) with only 3 years old.

 

 

 

 

 

Rod worked as a tattoo artist, and soon after studied jewelry, working for three years as of Jewelry Designer and Modeler.

 

 

His style is the human realism, created his own technique combining his knowledge and passion for jewelry and the black and white. Art for your friend, the Brazilian actor Saulo Meneghetti.

 

 

 

His canvases are in oil, with few colors, remembering a picture with a little saturation, gaining an extra charm with the luxury of gold dust that is applied on the art.

 

 

 

 

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/rod.iazbeck