GEORGS AVETISJANS

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Chelas, Archive

Ana Maria Semedo (G Fema) in Zona M, Chelas

Zona J, Chelas

Map of Chelas, Archive

Rosa in Zona J, Chelas

Fernando Nobre in Zona J, Chelas

Ricky, Daniel Grilo (Bigg Mobster) in Bairro Chinês, Zona L, Chelas

Sandru in Zona J, Chelas

Zona J, Chelas

Raul Ribeiro in Zona J, Chelas

Bela Vista, Chelas

Davidson, Adriano, Nelson in Zona J, Chelas

Samuel Mira (Sam the Kid) in Zona I, Chelas

Ricardo Fonseca by CLAF - Clube Lisboa Amigos do Fado, Zona I, Chelas

Luis Silva and Vera in Zona J, Chelas

Paulo Manacas (Dr. Snake OG) in Zona J, Chelas

Zona J, Chelas

Zona J, Chelas

Fanta Djassi in Zona J, Chelas

Vlademir in Zona J, Chelas

Zona J, Chelas

Zona J, Chelas

Pedro Lopes in Zona J, Chelas

Leonel, Agostinho in Zona J, Chelas

Armando Naae in Zona M, Chelas

Esta Senhora Chama se Fernanda Ribeiro in CLAF, Zona I, Chelas

Zona J, Chelas

Islu, Sandru, Vlademir in Zona J, Chelas

Zona J, Chelas

David Cunha (Rato Chinês) in Bairro Chinês, Zona L, Chelas

Carlos Fontinha in Zona J, Chelas

Nuno Varela, Academia Jorge Pina in Zona M, Chelas

Tiago Belo in Zona M, Chelas

Zona N2, Chelas

Wilson Borges (Cjay Pharrell) in Zona I, Chelas

Sedenay Tavares and Ludmila Morrera in Zona J, Chelas

Andre Lopes (Emi) in Zona J, Chelas

Zona I, Chelas

Ana Maria Semedo (G Fema) in Zona M, Chelas

Victor Maia, Casimiro Brito in Zona J, Chelas

Sr. Batista in Zona M, Chelas

Kauã Divino (Mulato G) in Zona I, Chelas

Zona I, Chelas

Zona I, Chelas

Ricardo Neves in Zona J, Chelas

Zona I, Chelas

Alex (Sunday) in Zona M, Chelas

Bairro Chinês, Zona L, Chelas

Luis Ferreira (Luh Cah) Bairro Chinês, Zona L, Chelas

Zona M, Chelas

Lucas Gomes (LKZZZK7) in Zona M, Chelas

Nuno Varela in Zona M, Chelas

Manuel Ferreira in Zona L, Chelas

Luis Pereira in Zona L, Chelas

Manuel Ferreira, Rafael in Zona L, Chelas

Zona M, Bela Vista, Zona J, Chelas

Zona J, Chelas

Joāo Barros, Ludmila Morrera, Sedenay Tavares in Igreja Congregacional de Lisboa, Zona J, Chelas

Pedro Lopes in Zona J, Chelas
- 1
  Chelas, Archive
- 2
  Ana Maria Semedo (G Fema) in Zona M, Chelas
- 3
  Zona J, Chelas
- 4
  Map of Chelas, Archive
- 5
  Rosa in Zona J, Chelas
- 6
  Fernando Nobre in Zona J, Chelas
- 7
  Ricky, Daniel Grilo (Bigg Mobster) in Bairro Chinês, Zona L, Chelas
- 8
  Sandru in Zona J, Chelas
- 9
  Zona J, Chelas
- 10
  Raul Ribeiro in Zona J, Chelas
- 11
  Bela Vista, Chelas
- 12
  Davidson, Adriano, Nelson in Zona J, Chelas
- 13
  Samuel Mira (Sam the Kid) in Zona I, Chelas
- 14
  Ricardo Fonseca by CLAF - Clube Lisboa Amigos do Fado, Zona I, Chelas
- 15
  Luis Silva and Vera in Zona J, Chelas
- 16
  Paulo Manacas (Dr. Snake OG) in Zona J, Chelas
- 17
  Zona J, Chelas
- 18
  Zona J, Chelas
- 19
  Fanta Djassi in Zona J, Chelas
- 20
  Vlademir in Zona J, Chelas
- 21
  Zona J, Chelas
- 22
  Zona J, Chelas
- 23
  Pedro Lopes in Zona J, Chelas
- 24
  Leonel, Agostinho in Zona J, Chelas
- 25
  Armando Naae in Zona M, Chelas
- 26
  Esta Senhora Chama se Fernanda Ribeiro in CLAF, Zona I, Chelas
- 27
  Zona J, Chelas
- 28
  Islu, Sandru, Vlademir in Zona J, Chelas
- 29
  Zona J, Chelas
- 30
  David Cunha (Rato Chinês) in Bairro Chinês, Zona L, Chelas
- 31
  Carlos Fontinha in Zona J, Chelas
- 32
  Nuno Varela, Academia Jorge Pina in Zona M, Chelas
- 33
  Tiago Belo in Zona M, Chelas
- 34
  Zona N2, Chelas
- 35
  Wilson Borges (Cjay Pharrell) in Zona I, Chelas
- 36
  Sedenay Tavares and Ludmila Morrera in Zona J, Chelas
- 37
  Andre Lopes (Emi) in Zona J, Chelas
- 38
  Zona I, Chelas
- 39
  Ana Maria Semedo (G Fema) in Zona M, Chelas
- 40
  Victor Maia, Casimiro Brito in Zona J, Chelas
- 41
  Sr. Batista in Zona M, Chelas
- 42
  Kauã Divino (Mulato G) in Zona I, Chelas
- 43
  Zona I, Chelas
- 44
  Zona I, Chelas
- 45
  Ricardo Neves in Zona J, Chelas
- 46
  Zona I, Chelas
- 47
  Alex (Sunday) in Zona M, Chelas
- 48
  Bairro Chinês, Zona L, Chelas
- 49
  Luis Ferreira (Luh Cah) Bairro Chinês, Zona L, Chelas
- 50
  Zona M, Chelas
- 51
  Lucas Gomes (LKZZZK7) in Zona M, Chelas
- 52
  Nuno Varela in Zona M, Chelas
- 53
  Manuel Ferreira in Zona L, Chelas
- 54
  Luis Pereira in Zona L, Chelas
- 55
  Manuel Ferreira, Rafael in Zona L, Chelas
- 56
  Zona M, Bela Vista, Zona J, Chelas
- 57
  Zona J, Chelas
- 58
  Joāo Barros, Ludmila Morrera, Sedenay Tavares in Igreja Congregacional de Lisboa, Zona J, Chelas
- 59
  Pedro Lopes in Zona J, Chelas
1950 - Chelas Till I Die
2025 - 2026

This is a story of a neighbourhood which has more neighbourhoods inside the neighbourhood. The series showcases a quiet urban landscape densely populated by working-class individuals, fostering a movement centred around self-identity and connection to the neighbourhood. In this context, the bond to the territory for selfexpression is particularly significant in urban culture, as well as in their identity and their association with other cultures. This series aims to capture the essence of Chelas, a visual melody painted with light through the camera lens within the neighbourhood's architecture and its vibrant, ethnically diverse backgrounds, where the traditional Portuguese music genre fado and hip-hop culture intertwine. The rhythm, poems, lyrics, truth and pain resonate through the walls of the buildings. Both genres' emotional narratives resonate deeply within the neighbourhood's structures, including buildings, streets, gardens, bars, concretes, house windows, playgrounds, pathways, and stairways. Both fado and hip-hop share common themes of storytelling, pain, and authenticity, which are vital to the urban culture of performance. Just as fado communicates profound emotion and depth, successful rap artists, such as Beto Di Ghetto, Tchapo, Sam the Kid from Chelas, embody his art with genuine feeling, often infusing elements of fado into his performances, thereby creating moments of transcendence and catharsis.

The design of Chelas highlighted the importance of social housing, aiming to create a mixed community of various ethnicities. The neighbourhoods in Zone I and Zone J were initially occupied by squatters from diverse backgrounds, predominantly poor, following the Carnation Revolution in 1974, the end of the Portuguese Colonial War. Although the original plan sought demographic diversity, it primarily focused on housing for low-income individuals due to the urgent demand for accessible housing after the political and social upheavals of April 25, 1974. Zone J has been particularly associated with issues such as poverty and crime, often linked to drug trafficking and vandalism, especially noticeable by the late 1990s. Until the 1960s, the area of Chelas was predominantly rural, characterized by agricultural fields and valleys that were generally unappealing to the private development sector.

Chelas today is located in the Parish Council of Marvila in Lisbon and divided into seven zones: Chelas Velha (Old Chelas), Zona J (Bairro do Condado), Zona M (Bairro do Armador), Zona I (Bairro das Amendoeiras), Zona L (Bairro das Salgadas), Zona N1 (Bairro da Flamenga), and Zona N2 (Bairro dos Lóios). For the younger generation, the common identifier is Marvila's postcode, 1950, which unites them in a shared identity, making Chelas one of the most significant neighbourhoods in Lisbon. Despite existing social segregation, Chelas functions as a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities, where residents actively communicate, engage in trade, and share experiences. While differences are celebrated, the community shares a collective bond that fosters happiness, mutual enrichment and pride in their roots. The neighbourhood is home to a diverse population, including individuals from South American, African, European, and Romani backgrounds, with a strong emphasis on togetherness and lessons in care and love imparted from an early age.

The project is exhibited in a group exhibition "OrientaLX" at the Parque Ribeirinho Oriente in Lisbon, Portugal as a result of an international artist residency held in 2025 as part of the Culture Moves Europe program, which brought together three photographers: Georgs Avetisjans (Latvia), Louisa Boeszoermeny (Germany), and Sónia Hamza (France). It is is part of OS DIAS DE MARVILA, a festival organized by Biblioteca de Marvila, and the ERRAR conference, organized by Procurarte in partnership with Universidade Lusófona, supported by the Lisbon City Council and DGARTES