Gelu Lupas - a selection of photographs

This is a series from the Cluj "Oszer" flea market. This is one of the places that hasn't changed much since the 80's. Muddy and slushy during winter, dusty during summer days. You can find here anything: second hand skis, used audio equipment, bicycles, an exhaust pipe for your 50cc bike, boho clothing, used golf balls, etc.

The elderly man with the straw hat is advertising an old alarm clock. Some objects found here are somewhat puzzling, for instance a soldier's beret with "no war" written on it in capitals, using a ballpoint pen. Visitors are mainly using bicycles and public transportation to reach the Oszer flea market. A large number of bicycles are lined up on the bridge every Saturday morning.

The girl in the picture is riding a Pegas bicycle, an old Romanian classic. It was manufactured by the Tohan Zărneşti bicycle factory, near Braşov.

The majority of people who rode a bicycle in Romania during the 80's had a Pegas of some sort. We had exactly the same model the girl rides. The Pegas was a reliable bicycle.

Two boys from the nearby industrial town of Aghireşu, riding a bicycle.













Photos and text © Gelu Lupas

I have lost count of how many excellent photographers we have seen on 591 coming from Romania. A special thanks to Tatiana Bitir who started this flow.

Gelu Lupas' photos and text is a wonderful contribution, also adding extra value to our Spring Exhibition "The 80's Reinvented". I know that Gelu has captured a lot of great images of bicycles - it is an ongoing project and I hope to see more of that in the future. - Mr Urbano

Gelu Lupas
Born: 1980
Lives in: Cluj/Kolozsvar, Romania
Latest exhibition: Street@Homemadefair, December 2008
Inspiration (photographers): Robert Doisneau, Robert Frank, Garry Winogrand, Marton Munkacsi Inspiration (other): Edward Hopper, M. C. Escher, Alexander Calder, Franz Kafka
Film, digital or both: both
Quote: "Here we are, trapped in the amber of the moment. There is no why." -- Kurt Vonnegut, A Man without a Country
Website: photo.devnull.ro