Every day is another day, but at the same time it has the same routine and structure for the inhabitants of Malmö. I could try to generalize that for everybody but this time I want to put the focus on Malmö, which is a beautiful city in the south of Sweden. From the coast of Malmö the city of Copenhagen can be seen. Malmö was founded in the late 13th century and till 1658 belonged to Denmark.
Malmö is the third largest city of Sweden and it is growing rapidly. The modern architecture is mixed with the old one but still these two styles do not hinder each other.
When we say colorful, we understand the diversity, variety and the mix of the things around us. Malmö is a city which fulfills this criteria. Starting from the area called Möllan and finishing with the touristic areas we can see and feel this diversity.
The Swedes are really relaxed, so if you are visiting Sweden, you will never have problems in communication or support. Even in the shops and markets they are relaxed and extremly friendly.
2. Near the Central Station
Every morning, as I went out of the flat to shoot pictures around the city, I had the feeling of being in a place, where people are so relaxed and calm. I had the feeling that time had stopped for a while to have some coffee and kanelbulle (cinnamon bun) with me in the old city. The smiles of the strangers, who I had never met before, the taste of carrot cakes and cinnamon buns and the coffee in the mornings from little coffee shops were enough to forget the negative vibes of life and dive into the reality of Malmö.
The Workshop of Thomas Everlund
Malmö is also a city of migrants from Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Balkan Countries, etc. All these people brought their culture and experience with them and started a new life in the north. There are many foreign shops around the area of Möllan and the grocery market is the big highlight of this area. The market is like a meeting point for everyone, regardless of age, religion and nationality.
2.The Market at Möllan
I met a shopkeeper around Möllan who was feeding the pigeons with sunflower seeds.
“They know me, I have been feeding them for ten years, so they trust me” he said.
There are a lot of Roma people in Malmö too. I met a Roma woman who was selling roses around the marketplace. I had seen her before and knew, if I do not buy a rose, she is going to curse me. So I bought one and that made her like me. Roma people are still being discriminated and treated like lower class folk. I could see that clearly in the eyes of that woman, who was selling the roses. As I asked her to take a photo of her, she smiled and stood still with the white roses in her hands. Her wrinkles and her sunburned face were enough to understand what hardships she had had in her life.
© Text and Photos by M. Zakaryan
Photo editing J. Klemedsson
Public Chronicle 