Photo exhibition marks 40 years of Shanghai–Montreal ties

A photo exhibition titled Pas de Deux: A Tale – in Three Parts – of Two Cities, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Shanghai and Montreal, opened on Friday at Shanghai Library East.

Running until Dec 26, the exhibition is jointly presented by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, the city of Montreal, the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai and the Quebec Government Office in Shanghai.

The show features the work of Montreal-based photographer Daniel Wiener, who spent eight to 10 weeks over two years capturing the essence of both Shanghai and Montreal.

Rather than focusing on architecture or economic development, Wiener set out to portray the soul of each city through its people.

"This photo essay is about the people, and quite honestly, more important than the buildings, the industry, the economy in both cities is the people who inhabit these cities. So that's why I really made an effort to concentrate on people in their daily lives," he said.

The exhibition explores the shared humanity between the two seemingly different cities. Despite contrasts in history, geography, climate and culture, it highlights their unexpected commonalities and urban spirit.

"Rather than dwell on our differences, I started to notice how alike we are," Wiener said.

He noted the openness and friendliness of residents in both cities, comparing it to Montreal's welcoming atmosphere. He also pointed to a shared passion for food, observing how people in both Shanghai and Montreal will queue for local delicacies regardless of the weather.

Although Wiener does not consider his work art photography, he hopes the exhibition will encourage cultural exchange between the two cities. He said he wants visitors to "recognize themselves in these pictures and go away feeling good".

The sister-city relationship between Shanghai and Montreal began with a partnership between their botanical gardens, and Wiener believes the two cities continue to share a strong affinity.

"I think we are going to see tremendous value for both sides in this continuing relationship," he added.

Luo Bin contributed to this story.