An old-school marketplace, or pasar as the locals call it, is one of the most common meeting places for Malaysians from all walks of life. In the past, there were three markets in the heart of George Town: Sia Boey Market (relocated to another area in 2000), Chowrasta Market, and Campbell Street Market. Each market had its specialties and served multicultural clientele. For the old-timers,

it was a common daily routine to visit more than a market for different purposes. Today, while the Chowrasta Market has been upgraded and given a new look, the Campbell Street Market which is housed in a Victorian-style building still retains its old-school charm.

 

Here, Lefty created a visual story based on his multiple excursions to the quaint Campbell Street Market and the street vendors at its vicinity. The artist paid particular attention to human interactions at the site, noticing the mutual understanding of cultural preferences between the vendors and their customers. For example, at a Chinese stall that sells wet spices, the vendor can customize the ratio of different ingredients according to the taste palate of his customers. Malay curry, Indian curry, Chinese curry... he knows the subtle variations! The same customized services are also available at the other stalls selling fresh produce. The vendors equipped with cultural know-hows are able to prepare their products according to special needs; and even provide a piece of culinary advice from time to time. This is the beauty of an old-school marketplace, where marketing is about human relationships and not merely business transactions.