Photo Essay: A City Within A City—The Adderley Street Flower Market

By Nina-Karoo Hofmeyr

Although Cape Town may feel small when you constantly bump into familiar faces, the reality is that it is a sprawling city filled with faces and places we know little about. If you venture into the heart of the City Bowl and take a closer look, you may realise that there are small cities living within cities, rich with culture and countless stories to be told. This photo essay aims to provide insight into one of these worlds and explore the daily realities of people working in the midst of an urban environment.

The Adderley Street Flower Market has been around since the 1900s and is an integral part of Cape Town’s culture and heritage. The market is nestled in a dark alleyway in the heart of the city, lively with passers-by and a vast array of vibrant flowers on display. The space is rich with stories, from the flower sellers that come from generations passed down, to the diverse citygoers passing through. For these reasons, both the market and its inhabitants serve as a compelling lens through which to explore small worlds within our larger city, and the harsh realities that may come with it.

The photo essay aims to emphasise city life in the imagery of the flower market and to highlight the environment that the florists work in each day. Through the use of increased depth perspective, the busy urban surroundings are brought into focus, creating an interplay between the florists and their environment. It was also important to use low angles to draw attention toward the flower sellers and evoke emotion. The mood is vibrant and lively, spotlighting the wild floral colours. There is an emphasis on contrasting colours from the small areas of warm light shining against dark urban backdrops. These elements aim to carry through the theme of cities within cities, showcasing the city of flowers and its inhabitants nestled in the CBD.

The Adderley Street Flower Market is historically renowned in Cape Town, and this photo essay draws a connection between the audience and this space. These photographs intend to communicate a message of culture and community by providing a small insight into a part of our city. It’s easy to drive past or walk through this market without interest, but it’s also important to look closer into the people that run this little city and the work that is poured into places we rely on to function each day.