There is laughter in the distance, amongst the sound of ceramic clinking in wooden boxes. Emanating from the stalls where the vendors are setting up, the children accompanying them to the market have now obviously found something far more interesting. They play. The parents keep busy, in readiness for the weekly crowd. Markets. Flea markets, in particular, tell a story. Like no other. Where every silver spoon, a scarf probably once owned by the family’s matriarch, a necklace which stopped being an heirloom, a plated picture frame, a faded postcard. These are all objects, waiting for the next chapter.
Feira da Ladra, Lisbon’s “Thieves market”, isn’t just a place to buy and sell. It is a place steeped in history. It’s where Lisbon’s layers of stories peel back. Of what little I hope to see. Stories of sellers, of reluctant tourists, slowly gliding towards the stalls. Of vendors setting up. The care and love they mirror, reflecting those of the many objects that surround them. Lisbon may have changed over the years. It’s centuries of history, leaving its mark. But here, the sun still shines, as a witness to what hides in the alleys, in paths along the stalls, where I walk along, stopping often, to observe the fleeting moments. It’s places like these that give meaning to a community. Fostering friendships, a friendly nod, a loving embrace. It’s times like these that give photography substance. When forming pictures is part of a feeling, where Layered compositions make sense of chaos, and hoping that in a place like this, my pictures too will tell a tale.
My love letter to Lisbon’s Thieves market is not over. At least that’s what I hope. It’s a place that has dug deep into my heart. Seemingly mundane with used objects. I find a deeper layer of emotions here. Watching on the sidelines, observing people becomes therapy for the soul. My wandering mind romanticising the morning stroll, of people walking through, entering shops, gazing upon the stalls. I hope to come back to. This market has left me wanting more. What stays with me for now is the Lisbon state of mind.
Thanks for reading! As always.
This time I have also made a short film about my experience that pairs well with the Substack, Why not watch that video about below?
Can’t see the video? Here is a YouTube Video link