Because you are beautiful, no matter what they say!!

A few weeks a go the winner of the artist's competition to design a statue for the vacant fourth plinth at Trafalgar Square in London was announced. For those of you who don't know the winner is a marble statue of a naked woman. Rather than aping classical sculpture, the model - Alison Lapper, born with no arms and stunted legs, is also pregnant. Given the plastic surgery, botox, atkins diets etc of today's society and the mentality that we all have to have classical good looks and slim bodies this could be seen as a rather interesting choice. Not surprisingly, the piece caused a major stir in both the art-world and amongst the general public. Many people felt disgusted at the piece and thought it would be more apt to have a statue devoted to the Queen Mother. I disagree, I think the piece it great. It shows so many different qualities, single motherhood, the acceptance of disability and for me most importantly that beauty is not all about classical good looks.For those of you who have seen the BBC programme 'Child of our Time' (This is the only television programme I watch as it is to do with genetics) you may have seen Alison Lapper with her child. She was Born with phocomelia, a congenital condition similar to that caused by Thalidomide, Ms Lapper stands at just 3ft 11ins, having cast off the artificial limbs she wore as a child. She is a courageous woman who does not care about what others think of her, she just gets on with her life. She is happy with her body (and so she should be) and has always refused to have plastic surgery when it has been offered to her. She doesn't have classical good looks but I see much more beauty in her than any of these so called beautiful super-models. Despite her disability she has managed to bring up her child as good as (and if you see the programme, probably better than) most able bodied people.If you look at the piece I think you will see that it does capture this spirit of the person, there is some kind of radiant beauty coming from it. I even dare to say that it is a modern day Venus de Milo. Most people recognise the Venus de Milo to be the most beautiful sculpture of a female in the world but no one ever questions the fact that the statue (although indirectly) shows a disabled person. This is a brilliant piece, it hasn't even been properly made yet but it has already caused the general public of Britain to think and argue (and that is what art should be about).The piece shows that disability is something to be proud off, it challenges the prejudices of today's society, it shows the diversity that exists in today's society, it shows that beauty can be found in many different things that society does't consider to be classically beautiful. It shows that it is what is in the inside of a person that counts. I really do like this piece, I think it is original and sets the right tone for the future. it will encourage those who are still uncomfortable with their bodies. It puts all these wannabe stick insects to shame.I never thought I would be quoting Christina Aguilera (actually I am a little ashamed that I know some of her lyrics) but I think that her song 'Beautiful' is rather apt:Christina Aguilera: Beautiful.Every day is so wonderfulAnd suddenly, it's hard to breatheNow and then, I get insecureFrom all the pain, I'm so ashamedI am beautiful no matter what they sayWords can't bring me downI am beautiful in every single wayYes, words can't bring me downSo don't you bring me down todayTo all your friends, you're deliriousSo consumed in all your doomTrying hard to fill the emptinessThe piece is gone and left the puzzle undoneThat's the way it isYou are beautiful no matter what they sayWords can't bring you downYou are beautiful in every single wayYes, words can't bring you downSo don't you bring me down today...