Soela Zani, an Albanian photographer captured the beauty of children with Down Syndrome by having them recreate some of the world's most famous paintings.
The project started out in collaboration with Down Syndrome Albania Foundation in an effort to bring awareness and develop positive attitudes towards the condition. "Here in Albania, it is not easy to have Down Syndrome. There are too many misconceptions," Zani told dna.
The children who participated in the photoshoot enjoyed the experience. "The dream of Irma, for example, was to be a ballerina, so, in this way we made her dream come true," revealed Zani.
While all the children were happy to pose, they were all hyperactive. "But I did not see any difference between children with Down Syndrome and children without Down Syndrome. They act the same way, because they are children above all, " she said.
When Soela's work was exhibited at the National Historic Museum in Tirana, the reaction was overwhelming. "The visitors enjoyed all the pictures. So many of them started to cry. I was very touched," she said.
Zani, who says these beautiful children are "pieces of art", wants to develop similar projects around the world, to globally develop healthier attitudes about the condition.
Here are some of the incredible portraits captured by Zani:
Master Bunbury by Joshua Reynolds.
Gabrielle Arnault as a child by Louis-Leopold Boilly.
Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez
Take a look at the rest of the photos here.
