Hide in the City No. 37 by Liu Bolin is a striking 2007 photograph from the artist's renowned Invisible Man series. In this piece, Bolin camouflages himself against a wall covered with Chinese propaganda text, blending seamlessly into the urban landscape. His meticulous body paint allows him to disappear within the wall, creating a visual commentary on themes of identity, conformity, and the individual’s relationship to society. Bolin’s performance art captures the tension between the self and the collective, particularly within the context of modern Chinese society. This signed and numbered photograph not only showcases Bolin’s technical skill but also serves as a profound critique on the erasure of individuality within a regulated environment.
Liu Bolin (China, 1973) is a contemporary artist celebrated for his 'Hiding in the City' series, where he camouflages himself into urban landscapes. His works, blending performance and photography, explore themes of identity, social invisibility, and the individual's role within modern society.
PhotographA photograph is an image captured with a camera. Traditionally, photographs were made by exposing film and then developing the image on light-sensitive paper using chemicals. Today, photographs can also be captured digitally and printed or displayed electronically. The process requires a camera, whether film or digital, and a photographer.
Hide in the City No. 37 by Liu Bolin is a striking 2007 photograph from the artist's renowned Invisible Man series. In this piece, Bolin camouflages himself against a wall covered with Chinese propaganda text, blending seamlessly into the urban landscape. His meticulous body paint allows him to disappear within the wall, creating a visual commentary on themes of identity, conformity, and the individual’s relationship to society. Bolin’s performance art captures the tension between the self and the collective, particularly within the context of modern Chinese society. This signed and numbered photograph not only showcases Bolin’s technical skill but also serves as a profound critique on the erasure of individuality within a regulated environment.
Liu Bolin (China, 1973) is a contemporary artist celebrated for his 'Hiding in the City' series, where he camouflages himself into urban landscapes. His works, blending performance and photography, explore themes of identity, social invisibility, and the individual's role within modern society.
Each one chooses his or her path to come in contact with the external world. I chose to merge with the environment.
- Liu Bolin
A performance artist and photographer, Liu Bolin is renowned for his use of disguise and chameleon-like methods as a means of immersing himself within his environment; Bolin’s Hiding in the City series sees him camouflaged by paint in a silent protest against the Chinese government and the ostracisation he felt – such techniques as disguise and camouflage have earned him the nickname ‘The Invisible Man’. The process of painting his body can take up to 10 hours – with the help of assistants, Bolin uses paint to match with a portion of his chosen environment; his chosen sites have included the rubble left by earthquakes in the Chinese countryside, and the words of the Communist Manifesto scribed onto a wall. (Artist website)
Activist Art is a form of art created to address social and political issues. It often involves public engagement and works closely with communities to raise awareness or inspire change. While it can include elements of performance art, it is not limited to this form. Examples include creating and distributing social protest posters or organizing community-based art projects that highlight specific causes.