Impact

BEAUTIFUL INVISIBLE MAN

Liu Bolin, "Hiding in the City No. 83 - Supermarket," 2009

Protests can be beautiful in mission, spirit, and in outcome, but few are beautiful visually. Liu Bolin, an artist based in Beijing, developed his “Hiding in the City” series as a visual protest against the Chinese government. It began in response to the government's systematic persecution of artists. Ai Wei Wei, an artist who “disappeared” after a string of these government-inflicted injuries, is one famous example. Bolin makes himself disappear a different way.

Using the city as his canvas, Bolin's body is painted, head to toe, so that he blends in with the scene, then photographed. Often choosing backdrops, which illustrate human rights, political scandal, and other societal abuses, Bolin makes a powerful statement about the attitude and actions of the post-Cultural Revolution Chinese government towards its constituents, as their sufferings are ignored. His first piece, created in 2005, was instigated when the government demolished a number of artists’ studios, including his own, at the Beijing International Art Camp, as a backlash against artists making anti-government statements. He had himself painted and photographed against the background of the rubble.

Beijing International Art Camp

Photo: Liu Bolin

Beijing International Art Camp (2005)

One set of images in the series portrays Bolin blending into supermarket shelves stocked with tainted food, a testament to the corruption and lack of government regulations in the country’s food and agriculture industries, as shown in the main image above.

Represented by Eli Klein Gallery , Bolin's “Hiding in the City” series includes powerful pieces portraying many issues across the the city and cultural landscape of Beining, including some in front of graffiti, national monuments, political posters, surrounding woods, in crowds --- each one grabs you with the physical, emotional, and spiritual beauty of its imagery.

Hiding in the City - Beijing Graffiti No. 2

Photo: Liu Bolin

"Hiding in the City - Beijing Graffiti No. 2," 2012

Photograph, 44 1/4 x 59 inches (112.5 x 150 cm)

Bolin is hiding in plain sight. And while the government does not appreciate it, the people do. Raising awareness, speaking out and encouraging people to protest along with him, Bolin has had an impact, not only on his fellow Chinese artists, but the citizens of China and the world at large.

Hiding in New York No. 5 - Tiles For America