See "Ancient" Shanghai: 1990-1993

　　
A 1990 photo featuring Nanjing Road E., shot by Dutch photographer Robert van der Hilst. The photographer is presenting an exhibition, "Shanghai: 1990-1993," at M97 Gallery on Moganshan Road. [shanghaidaily.com]

We are so used to Shanghai's skyscrapers that we forget they are very recent additions to the skyline, and there once was a time when there was no startling skyline.

There once was a time when the construction crane was not yet the unofficial "city bird." And not so long ago.

Around 15 years ago, there was no Oriental Pearl TV Tower: Construction began in 1991 and was completed in 1993. At that time many construction workers still wore reed hats and road signs were painted in ink.

Photos capturing this "old Shanghai" of recent yesteryear can be seen starting February 16 at M97 Gallery on Moganshan Road.

"Shanghai: 1990-1993" by Dutch photographer Robert van der Hilst presents 17 photos from his assignments for magazines such as Vogue, Stern, Marie Claire, Elle and the Sunday Times.

"I was given a carte blanche to photograph whatever I wanted for large features and they give a great look at what Shanghai used to be like," says the Dutch expat.

Van der Hilst presents powerful images from the pre-auto boom, including one of a man dragging a cart in front of a massive hand-painted bicycle advertisement reading "The Key to Independence."

In other photos an acrobat performs on the street - a sight like the extinct dodo bird - and the legendary jazz band from the Peace Hotel relaxes backstage.

When van der Hilst was on assignment, he always stayed at the Peace Hotel, woke up early and walked through the city with his camera. His first assignment was in 1990 for Paris Vogue: The pictures were so extraordinary that he was flooded by calls from other magazines seeking a look at changing Shanghai.

He became the go-to Shanghai street photographer, capturing the city's exterior transformation that mirrored interior changes.

He now lives between Shanghai and Paris and is working on a very personal project, "China Interiors," to open at the Shanghai Art Museum next year. These present still-lifes of Chinese people inside their homes and work places, representing the interior changes in society. He earlier produced similar project, "Cuban Interiors."

"I have been a photographer since I was 19, and in my career as a photo journalist I always tried to get into the homes of people," says van der Hilst, calling the situation a very intimate experience.

"With street photography you do not get involved, but when you go into homes, you get to know the people and it feels like a huge privilege."

With the interiors he works with a tripod and a bigger format camera, Mamiya 7.

In 2005 his project was backed by Rabobank from the Netherlands, so he rented a Shanghai apartment to explore the inside view.

"I travel all around China to get a cross section of society - old, young, poor, rich, rock 'n' roll, punk, farmers, middle class, etc," he says.

He showed his "Cuban Interiors" at the International Photography Festival in Pingyao (Shanxi Province), meeting Chinese photographers from across the nation who spoke English and wanted to work with him.

"They invited me to their hometowns, so every day I was often in small villages taking pictures." He has seen 22 provinces.

Though some might consider him a house invader, van der Hilst says, "When I ask if I can visit their homes, 99.9 percent of the people say, 'Yes please.' The hospitality is amazing; they offer you tea and show their whole house, it is such a privilege for me."

Usually spending an hour and a half on each picture, he becomes "the director and the people living in the house become my actors. My work is like 'mise en scene,' putting into a scene what I want."

However, for now, it is the exterior Shanghai of yesteryear that is displayed, showing an unfamiliar city on the brink of change.

Date: 11 am-7 pm, through March 21
Address: 2/F, 97 Moganshan Rd
Tel: 021-6266 1597