For the past decade or so, Chinese photographer Liu Bolin, AKA The Invisible Man, has been blending in with the scenery, using his body as a canvas.
But his introduction to photography was no fun and games. It actually started as a political act. “It was November 16, 2005 when the City of Beijing decided to knock down the Suojia Village neighborhood, where my studio once was,” he told Elle Decor. “In protest, I decided to take a photo camouflaging myself into the ruble of my studio to draw attention to the conditions of artists like myself.”
“In my works, I use my body and that of others to explore the impact and the paradoxical relationship with the ‘backdrop’, or the surrounding environment,” he explained. “I think using a body as the central image has a strong impact and attracts more attention from the public. This language is also a great way to represent my thoughts on the paradoxical relationship between man and the world. Have you ever asked yourself why man, other species, or ecosystems disappear?”
His work has been exhibited in museums around the world; and scrolling through his Instagram page, it’s truly amazing how flawlessly he camouflages himself, “melting” into the background.
Look carefully.
