Tag Archives: market

The Addis Merkato, Ethiopia

14/10/2018 by fmarchetti | Comments Off

Last week in Ethiopia we had the opportunity to visit the Addis Merkato, considered to be the largest open market in Africa.
 
Initially overwhelmed by the hectic scene, chaos, noise, myriads of business trading all sort of goods, we have adventured into the side streets which lead to various sections of the market.
 
Despite the large size, it is always possible to exit the market from different sides and join one of the main roads surrounding the area. From there it is easy to walk back to the starting point or look for transport.
 
Our guide, Joseph, a tourism student, is very knowledgeable about Addis and the Merkato, and helps us communicating with local. Gradually, the market starts to make sense.
 
We walked throughout stalls selling exotic spices and strong coffee beans. Primarily female and kids are working there and call us “faranji” as we pass by. To them, every foreigner is from China.
 
We learn about the Enset, “false banana” paste, a multipurpose crop feeding more people per square miles than any other cereal.
 
Perhaps the most interesting section is the “recycling” area where things get fixed and eventually traded back in the market. The sound from hundreds of workers chiselling hard material, joining metals part, fixing pots, is like a restless jazz orchestra. In the Merkato, everything gets recycled.
 
People welcome us with curiosity. Some smile and do not mind our presence; others let us understand, in a polite way, that photographs are unwanted. Kids are excited at meeting foreigners and like the engagement. Some wants to take photos with us.
 
At the end of our visit, just before sunset, leaving the market means wanting to go back soon to understand more.

Posted in Africa, Documentary, Editorial, Market, People, People at work, Travel Photography Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

“Rialto no se toca”.The Rialto Market in Venice

11/02/2018 by fmarchetti | Comments Off

Opened at the beginning of the 11th century, the Rialto Market has always been at the commercial heart of Venice, and has been supplying fresh fish and vegetables to the town for all this time. Located nearby the Rialto Bridge, it is unsurprisingly  crowded with tourists.
 
Despite the popularity, the Market remains a genuine place where Venetians gather to buy quality food and socialize.
The authenticity of the Market is palpable from the early hours of the morning when the fresh food is delivered by boat, by the noise of the traders, by the sound of their voices in the strong Venetian dialect, by local elders pushing their trolleys, by the seagulls that piles up around fish leftovers after the market closes and the blinds are lifted up.
 
In this respect, the market could be considered a microcosm where Venice still finds its voice, and refuses to become a mere tourist attraction.
 
“Rialto no se toca” (Don’t touch the Rialto Market) roars the Lion, symbol of Venice, as written on the Market banner, was placed there by fishmongers in 2011 when the local municipality proposed moving the wholesale fish market further from the city.
 

 

















 
 

Posted in Documentary, Editorial, Italy, Market, Travel Photography, Venice Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Bole Pirocanac, a pottery maker in Belgrade, Serbia

20/05/2017 by fmarchetti | Comments Off

Bosko Petrovic, called Bole – Piroćanac, was born in 1940, and has been working since the age of twelve. As many pottery masters in Serbia, he comes from Pirot, eastern Serbia.
A specific aspect of the Pirot’s school of pottery making is that the potter is positioned next to the wheel (on the right hand side), whilst in other schools across the world potters turn the wheel that sits between their legs.
 
Bole tells us that he finished the school for the crafts at 16, and took him 4 additional years of apprenticeship to become a master or ‘Majstor’.
 
In 1956, the business he was working for had to close following the introduction of very large taxes. As many other skilful pottery masters from Pirot, he continued to get contracts across former Yugoslavia and used to work from spring to autumn.  In 1966 he opened his first own business in the outskirts of Belgrade, and he was advised to sell at the Kalenic market.
 
I asked Bole how he could still make pottery at his age. Forty years ago Bole began a daily program of one hour exercise before going to work, following a doctor’s advice.   Bole is, indeed, full of energy and strength, and he still works about four hours in the workshop every day.
 
Bole’s son, Dejan, has taken the workshop over in 1985, and invested in development and research of material and ways of firing the pots.
 
Bole and Dejan welcomed us at their workshop. After taking the photos we were offered Turkish coffee in beautiful and well-kept house garden. I asked Dejan, father of two daughters, if he has any apprentices keen to learn the art. He reckons that, as it takes about ten years to become a master, it is more convenient for young generation to continue studying at university.
 

 
The family business sells at the Kalenic market, in Belgrade.
 
Their website at http://www.grncar.rs/

 
 

Posted in Documentary, Editorial, People at work, Portrait, Serbia, Travel Photography Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Shepherd’s Bush Market, West London – Now and Then

18/03/2017 by fmarchetti | Comments Off

The Shepherds Bush Market is more than hundred years old street market and historical landmark within the West London community.

Intrigued by the vibrancy and multicultural dimension of this community of traders, many of whom have been here for generations, this project examines the social history of the market through a comparison between the present and the past of the market and some long-serving traders.

The outcome from this research is diverse. On one hand, it emerges a nostalgic feeling about its best years in the 70s, 80s up to the middle 90s. On the other hand, traders welcome a renovation of the market to help rejuvenate the already vibrant and multicultural area. They hope to bring new diverse businesses and more customers.

There is a general awareness that a collective effort from the community and other parties involved is needed to protect the cultural heritage of the market, quite unique with its long social history.

Ultimately my research makes me wonder, on a more abstract level, how, or whether, historical landmarks could coexist with gentrification and other changes in the consumer world.

For this project, I have asked the people portrayed to let me have an old photograph of them made at the market, in order to compare “Now and Then”. Old photographs, either from the traders or from the archive, are displayed on the right hand side.

 

 

Jackie: “it’s a hope for the future as the market plays such a large part in this community and offers not only things to buy but our customers get that feel of seeing a familiar face and someone to have a quick chat , instead of just a beep at the checkout”

Laura: “Shepherds Bush is a vibrant eclectic mix of traders, customers and tourists of all nationalities from all over the world and is probably the best market that most Londoner’s have never heard of”

 

Old photographs of the market are copyrighted material from the Hammersmith & Fulham local studies & archives (LBHF).

Huge thanks to all traders who kindly provided me with their old personal photographs.

Francesco

Posted in Documentary, Editorial, London, People at work, Portrait Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |