Photographer Chris Forsyth has been taking photos of the architectural beauty of Montreal’s metro stations since October 2014, . The city’s underground network is huge, with four lines, 68 stations, and over a million daily passengers. Forsyth’s vibrant, long-exposure shots accentuate an important side to the Metro, beyond its functionality: an original and brilliantly bold character, which is both a hallmark of modernism and architectural design.
Construction of the Metro began in the 1960s, during the occupation of Mayor Jean Drapeau. Each station was attributed to a different Canadian architect to create unusual designs for the spaces. For passengers today, it may sometimes be exciting to enjoy these beautiful, historical nuances while in the midst of urban mayhem, but as Forsyth’s project description points out,

“Architectural portraits give that elegant design is all around, even when we don’t have the time to slow down and notice.”

Forsyth’s thoughtful images show there are signs of human expression and imagination embedded in the very foundations of Montreal.
Check out Forsyth’s Instagram page to follow his ongoing project. For readers living in or visiting Montreal, be sure to share your photos of the Metro using the hashtag #mtlmetroproject.