HDP 090

[Zhang Xiaogang - photo by Natalie Behring]

Beijing is one of Hanoi’s sisters cities, and there truly is no doubt about that. Regardless of the cultural differences felt by Chinese and Vietnamese people, I can’t help but think there is an interesting similarity between those two powers: Shanghai and Saigon are their economic centers, defying their old communist doctrines; while Beijing and Hanoi keep a somewhat more nonchalant pace, maintaining themselves at the political and cultural forefront.

This photo by Natalie Behring (a Beijing-based photographer) features one of the capital’s prominent artists - Zhang Xiaogang. Mr. Zhang is well-known for his paintings, some of which show stiff, monochromatic portraits of Chinese families, reminiscent of the official photographs from the 1950s.

I really, really like Natalie’s photos; go check them out on her website.

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