The Lisbon Connection

Designer Alberto Gourgel was born in Angola, a Portuguese colony from the 16th century to 1975. ” I studied in a boarding school in Angola, but due to economical problems my brother and I moved to Lisbon in 1983. Being a kid, I already had creative ideas”.

Market ‘A Feira da Ladra’ (Lisbon’s flea market). Alberto Gourgel and his old-fashioned suitcases decorated with original Portuguese magazines. This famous market is held every Tuesday and Saturday from dawn to dusk.

”The last six years, I’m in to ‘vintage’, and I’m fascinated with the beautiful 20th Century Portuguese ‘vogue’ magazines. It’s not easy finding them, sometimes I’m lucky in a small museum or in very old bookshops”.

Alberto Gourgel: ‘The vernis is made by hand, an ancient procedure. It takes a lot of time because it’s very important to keep the original colours”. Besides Alberto decorates posters, walls, doors and room separators.

Flea market “Feira da Ladra”is visited by lots of tourists from all over the world. The market in Alfama dates back around 800 years, though it may have been named ‘Feira da Ladra’ as late as the 17th century. More information on this website

 

Alberto’s work is also for sale in some antique shops in Lisbon and in loja (shop) ‘A Vida Portuguesa’. Owner is Catarina Portas. She has a passion for Portuguese identity, and everyday Catarina brings objects of the past back to life to inhabit modern-day homes.

‘A Vida Portuguesa’, Rua Anchieta 11, Chiado Lisbon