Liu Bolin : biography

Liu Bolin, known as "the invisible man," is a Chinese artist famous for his photographic performances in which he literally camouflages himself in various environments. Born in 1973 in Shandong Province, China, Liu began his career as a sculptor before turning to performance and photography in response to the social and political tensions he perceived in his country.

Liu Bolin is best known for his *Hiding in the City* series, initiated in 2005 after his art studio in Beijing was destroyed by the government as part of urban redevelopment. This series of photos serves as a silent protest and a poignant commentary on the invisibility of the individual in contemporary Chinese society. In each image, Liu paints himself to blend almost perfectly with the background, whether it is a supermarket aisle, the Great Wall, or an Olympic site. This process can take several hours of meticulous painting to ensure the artist’s near-total disappearance into the scene.

Beyond the impressive visual aspect of his works, Liu Bolin’s camouflage is a powerful metaphor for the loss of identity and cultural erasure. His performances are a way for him to raise questions about visibility and the rights of citizens in the face of the overwhelming forces of modernization and government control. By disappearing in his photographs, Liu comments on how individuals can be ignored by systems of power and how art can be used to resist and testify.

Liu Bolin has extended his performances beyond China’s borders, creating "camouflages" in many major cities around the world and collaborating with other artists and brands, which has helped elevate his work to an international level. Each image is loaded with social critique, whether addressing mass consumption, environmental destruction, or political crises.

Liu Bolin's works are exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide, attracting a global audience fascinated by his unique approach to contemporary art. They offer a deep reflection on the themes of visibility, survival, and the human condition in an increasingly globalized and surveilled world.