Incredible Photos of the Artist Who Makes Himself Invisible
Shut down by the Chinese government, Liu Bolin has mastered the art of disappearing
- By Aviva Shen
- Smithsonian magazine, September 2012
(Courtesy Eli Klein Fine Art, (c) Liu Bolin)
Liu Bolin remembers what it feels like to truly be invisible. In 2005, the Chinese government shut down Beijing’s thriving art village, Suo Jia Cun, demolishing some 100 studios, including Liu’s. He protested the state’s treatment of artists with a photographic series, Hiding in the City. “I was a meaningless person, according to society,” Liu says. “Those years made me feel like people can exist or completely disappear.”
Liu disappears. He stands still for hours as an assistant paints him to match his surroundings. Liu hopes his works—like the one above, where he blends into propaganda art (look for his shoes under the white-jacketed soldier)—will compel people to ponder the often contentious relationship between the individual and society.
Comments (16)
Brilliant!
Posted by Tracy Richards on December 18,2012 | 03:23 AM
I am an aged person and I recall when I was a child at school, the nuns would ask for two shillings to give to the missions to buy a chinees baby girl,otherwise it would be left to die.Now China is the second largest economy and growing rapidly.But human rights are secondary to national development. Hense, inevitably, we have such gifted people as Liu,working for change under great pressuer. Inhumanity brings forth love and sacrafice!!
Posted by Kerry Creevey on November 18,2012 | 10:15 PM
wow wow
Posted by taleen on October 16,2012 | 02:13 PM
Clever but once you get him in the first picture the rest are easy. If that's a poster or painting of the young soldiers marching it's really beautiful.
Posted by Moira Eicholtz on October 11,2012 | 11:23 PM
Terrific issue of Smithsonian exciting artists concept! Bravo!
Posted by Susan Friedman on September 14,2012 | 08:01 PM
I was touched by this story, and wanted to give a response. Poetry seemed appropriate for my thoughts. Here's what I wrote: In Visibility Liu Bolin stands still. His hands held at his sides, standing in a shoulder-slacked stance atop the Great Wall, in the aisles of grocery stores, in the center of a red military mural. And it is art. Liu Bolin stands still. An assistant carefully caresses his skin with chameleon-colored paint, blurring the borders between person and place until the man is banished to the background. And it is art. Liu Bolin stands still. At a glance he has vanished, appearing in slow contours to those who stare searching for the textured shape of him. And it is art. Liu Bolin stands still. His voice echoed empty when his studio was torn down, and the eyes over him glazed as they gazed through, failing to see the invisible painter or hear his silent work. And it is art. I have walked through a crowd and drowned in the ocean of strangers. Thrashing through a heard but incomprehensible cry. Insignificant creatures, what do you have to say for yourselves? Have they told you yet, you are not there? We are edging onward toward violent invisibility, a moment when a million coarse voices will cave to a deafening mute. Will we know before then that we are worth more than the callous raiment, donned in visibility? Liu Bolin stands still, and it is art. To see my full post (or my other work), you can visit my blog: http://robdyoung.com/a-poem-response-to-liu-bolin-the-invisible-artist/
Posted by Rob D Young on September 4,2012 | 09:49 AM
"It seems that the Artist is great in standing still while his humble assistants do all the job for him" Wrong the one who came up with the idea is the artist not the assistant.
Posted by yourea llidiots on September 2,2012 | 02:43 AM
perhaps the credit should be given to both of them?
Posted by edi on August 31,2012 | 08:31 AM
They are BOTH great artists. What is with the school yard gibberish of who is better than who.
Posted by pamella on August 31,2012 | 07:43 AM
Who is the greater artist, the one with the concept or the one with the paints and brushes ?
Posted by RCBlackmer on August 27,2012 | 12:26 AM
It's interesting to see the comments above. Yes, the assistant is doing the work. The real artist, however, is the one who had the insight for the concept in the first place.
Posted by Daniel C on August 27,2012 | 06:40 PM
He may be an artist in terms of conceptualizing these pictures, but the assistant is the one who demonstrates the real artistic ability. Such detailed work.
Posted by sparkpklug54 on August 26,2012 | 03:01 PM
Cool pictures!
Posted by Mike on August 24,2012 | 08:35 PM
Check out the video on this site also, it's great!!
Posted by B. Smtih on August 24,2012 | 05:53 PM
It seems that the Artist is great in standing still while his humble assistants do all the job for him ;)
Posted by Anastasia on August 24,2012 | 03:01 AM
great job! I could not find him until i saw his feet below...
Posted by Dominic Santos on August 23,2012 | 10:54 AM