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In Praise of Unconventional Beauty
I just learned the French term “jolie laide,” which literally means “pretty-ugly,” but implies beauty that’s unexpected, unconventional and oddly compelling. I was never a pretty girl, so I find hope in this phrase. The image above is a mural painted by a New Zealand artist, Rone in a very seedy district of San Francisco. The juxtaposition of the pretty-ugly (with street signs as part of the tableau) is what makes this so winning, and an apt reflection of what life feels like, sometimes. If you’re in San Francisco, visit Rone’s show at the White Walls gallery. The mural is at Olive and Larkin.
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Jolie-laide was the term used to describe Diana Vreeland, a most unconventional looking woman who became the powerful editor of Vogue. Ive long been drawn to self assured/confident people with atypical beauty, whether admiring them on the street or in the press or just wanting to get to know them.
I didn’t know that about Diana Vreeland, and that’s so perfect.
Love it! Especially when cities do this on their sidewalk walls and street corners.
Hooray for public art!