Livia 2009Born in 1970 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Gustavo Lacerda is a photographer who turns his lens towards those who society has pushed into the background. With his "Albino" series, Lacerda has created a new standard of beauty that has nothing to do with the surface and everything to do with the quiet and resolute strength from within.
Photo Credit Gustavo Lacerda
Check out our full exclusive interview with Gustavo Lacerda!
By Mila Pantovich
Aliana 2011"Whenever I saw an albino in the street, I was by far, watching...I was interested in the way these people were shy and 'isolated'."
Andreza 2009"I chose the posing portrait in studio, upgrading the production process (costumes, hair/makeup and backgrounds), for the albinos to feel appreciated and valued."
Livia 2012"...what I wanted was to give prominence to the soft tones of their skin and emphasize this delicate and understated beauty, something unique."
Marcos, Andreza, and Andre 2011"I'm not militant in any association defending the albinos, the goal of my work was never this; I just wanted to portray them, after all there are so many different forms of beauty in the world."
Miguel 2009"I've photographed 44 people. I found many of them on social networks, some of them on the street…and some have written or called me because [they] wanted to participate in the project."
Miriam 2010"Specifically, the standards of beauty are very cruel, because they directly affect the self-esteem and the value of the people in society, which is absurd but it happens."
Oleneide, Italo, and Renan 2009"The idea was to put them clearly in the forefront, a new situation for those who have always been an outsider. This focus has caused them discomfort in the beginning, a certain strangeness to most of those portrayed but, at the same time, [they felt] pride too."
Patricia 2009"...most important is the chance for people to see other forms of beauty, which are not always shown."
Italo and Renan 2009"...parents are very proud of their children and many albino children that I portrayed were brought by [their] own parents, who approached me because they wanted to see them photographed in the project."
Thyfany 2009"The singular beauty of albinos always fascinated me."
Helena and Mariana 2011"When you work with people who are used to being rejected and discriminated socially, it is necessary to first build trust before they agree to pose for photos."
Igor 2009 "...I think people feel uncomfortable in a world that overvalues the perfect beauty."
Tany 2012 "The pictures do not hide this feeling of "strangeness" when put in the scene in a prominent position, a person who always felt the sidelines."
