DreaMarket

I took these pictures in may 2019 in Peruvian "Feria las Alasitas" - a season fair where people come to buy symbols of their desires. It could be anything - a fortune, a new car or even a desired profession. 
This market presents the world of people's wishes and dreams, but, ironically, it shows how their desires represent the surrounding world itself.

I call this project "Mercado de sueños" (Market of dreams) - come here to buy anything you might dream about and it would be wrapped for you in a colorful rag - with a conspiracy, prayer, ringing a bell, fumigated with incense and showered in flower petals.

First, I am ironic. It was as if I had fallen on an ethnographic excursion into modern savagery. Projection of social reality into Ancient rituals over plastic Chinese toys make me smile. But, looking more closely at the faces of people, I begin to see that visitors to the Dream market came for real magic, and they are its authors. And the purchased talismans, vivid reminders of desires and goals are a very serious and even rational approach to faith. Anyway, visitors of this Dream Market cannot  be fooled. As strong as they believe - they program themselves, setting those bright reminders of their desires and life goals. 

I was surprised with the amount of military and special operations soldiers figures - toys that show children's future choice. I feel frustrated to see this kind of future coming. In the same time there is a space for some beautiful dreams and magic - and this make me smile.

After all I have seen here I think how simple it is. To know your wish is a fortune already.

This story has a Christmas flavor and in the same time - the spirit of the different culture. And I can write any text here due to the polyphony of associations the plot creates: from our desire to see the future, magical thinking in modern life to trust in the social pyramids, from childhood believe in miracles to a dream to become a Spec.Op soldier. And good financial predictions - that adults wish to find under the Christmas tree:)

#magic #dreamarket 

I shot this project in 2019. Now it's open for publishing. Please request if you'd like to have a text and other pictures for publishing. All images and texts - Daniel Afrin.