Thiago's Eyes

In the noisy São Paulo, it's amazing when you find a place where there's silence. You can imagine, then, my reaction when I entered the house and school of the famous model, artist and good manners teacher, Madame Christine Yufon. She came to Brazil in her young years from China and became a exotic supermodel who modeled for the Brazilian designer Denner and for the French designer Jacques Heim - she chose him over Givenchy! She's the first ethnic model in Brazil and much more important to any History book than to a fashion book. In her early 90's, she has a whispering voice and her walk is light like a feather in the wind.

While I was waiting to meet her after a scheduled meeting in her historic big house in a noble neighborhood in São Paulo, my eyes were caught by the big variety of pieces of art all over the room where she teaches good manners to important young girls, mostly daughters and granddaughters of Brazilian politicians. Every step at the staircase, my heart skipped a beat. In my fantasy, I'd meet with a very strict lady with piercing eyes for any piece of slouch that would dare to disturb her sanctuary. How wrong was I!

Madame Yufon slid into the room smoothly and with a warming look. Gently, she explain the taoist messages in her art works. It's the power of her intentions that bend the wood found in rivers and that melt the bronze she uses in her pieces. But it's not only her work that deserves a visit to Madame Yufon's School of Good Manners.

If you are lucky and granted with the opportunity to meet her, drink from her wisdom. To me, she told about how she got rid of the chains that used to make her worried about what others would think about the severe personality for which she's also known. "I used to cover my personality so everybody would like me. Finally, I've played that role for far too long. Now I am free", she tells me.

And when I'm leaving her house slash school slash work studio, I feel myself and ready in the pursue of finding out who am I. Madame Yufon's lessons are of great value. Unfortunately, not everyone will be ready to learn. I hope you are.