Liu Bolin. Invisible artist. 6+ Automatic translate

Erarta Museum of Modern Art will present this winter a new international exhibition: the works of the famous Chinese "invisible artist" Liu Bolin.

In his work, Liu Bolin combines various genres and techniques, including sculpture, performance and photography. With his works, he addresses the important problems of the whole of modern society, and the political contradictions of China and other world powers.

Work process

At first glance, when you look at the result of Bolin’s work - photographs - it may seem that unusual landscapes are captured on them, nothing more. Some of the landscapes are easily recognizable, others are not. However, if you look closely, in each photo you can see the outline of a standing person. There is something disturbing in his figure that raises questions. What is he doing here? What does his presence symbolize? For what purpose does he fit himself into the landscape?

Forest, No. 129. 2014 © Liu Bolin, featuring artist and Galerie Paris-Beijing

Of course, the figure is Liu Bolin, who "disappears in the city", becoming the "Invisible Man." A prerequisite for creating a series of photographs “Hide in the City” was the events of 2005, when, in preparation for the Olympic Games in Beijing, the government destroyed the international art camp of Suo Jiya Kang. Along with many other artists, Liu Bolin, a member of Suo Jiya Kang, lost his workshop and felt obliged to protest the causeless destruction of the creative home of dozens of compatriots. And the political climate in China is such that certain forms of protest have been and remain banned. This difficult state of affairs prompted the artist to develop original methods of expressing his opinion. Bolin uses these methods today.

Hiding in the City Series, No. 02 - Suojia Village. The photo was taken by a destroyed workshop. 2005 © Liu Bolin, featuring artist and Galerie P

First of all, the artist carefully chooses the background and the place, which has a symbolic meaning for him and, at the same time, causes a response from others. The next step is to determine the exact position of the artist, taking all necessary measures, selecting a costume. First, the artist with his team paints the costume so that it merges completely with the selected background. It takes about 4-5 hours. Then Bolin puts on the finished suit and stands motionless in the chosen place, while his assistants paint his face and take photographs. In total, it can take a whole day to create one photo, even taking into account the efforts of five or six assistants.

Telephone Box, No. 65. 2008 © Liu Bolin, featuring artist and Galerie Paris-Beijing

It is important that the artist and his team do not use either superposition or any other methods of digital photo correction. Bolin’s photographs accurately convey how the paint was applied to the artist on that particular day, this particular weather, and with that particular lighting.

Most often, the background for work is selected so that you can tell something about the pressing problems of society.

“The selected places should send with clarity to certain symbols, be it politics, ecology, culture and so on… The background provides the most important information. A conflict arises when my body disappears in this background - a reflection of society from my point of view, ”says Liu Bolin.

First of all, inclusion of yourself in a certain landscape allows you to protest against the political climate or social situation, while maintaining a certain degree of anonymity. In addition, Liu Bolin also comprehends the problems of ecology and global warming in his works.

“From my point of view, in modern society the value of man is constantly being destroyed. Despite the fact that living conditions are improving, people cross out themselves in a rapidly developing stream. What an amazing contradiction! I choose to disappear in different spaces, because each has its own meaning, ”says Liu Bolin.

Sunflowers, 2012. © Liu Bolin, featuring artist and Galerie Paris-Beijing

In a sense, the artist manages, in a very accessible way, to question the mutually exclusive relations between civilization and its development.

Bolin’s work can also be regarded as a metaphor for the state of modern society, invisible to the superior forces of the state, environment, consumerism and urbanization. Liu Bolin notes that “in China, people, especially ordinary people, have long adhered to the uniformity, thematically painted in red. Even their blood has absorbed this monotony of behavior and thinking. ”

The same can be said of any country and any place. To what extent will our suffering be heard? To what extent can we ourselves find ourselves in a similar situation or similar landscape? Can you recognize yourself in a place where external forces push you into the background?

The artist will personally answer these and other questions at the Erarta Museum. Liu Bolin will come to the opening of the exhibition and will hold a special meeting with reporters on February 15. In addition to the standard “questions and answers”, the artist “hides” several volunteers into the chosen background, demonstrating his methods in action, showing the whole process to reporters. Moreover: the day before the opening of the exhibition, Liu Bolin will also “disappear in Erarta”, that is, will enter himself into the museum space, thus including Erarta and St. Petersburg in his creative biography. The process will be captured on video and shown on the opening day.

The exhibition is organized in collaboration with Galerie Paris-Beijing.

Exclusive exhibition partner: Moncler. Monclair’s brand philosophy has always been built on the support of art and creativity. The brand especially values ​​the partnership with Liu Bolin, “hidden” by the protagonist of the last Monler advertising campaign, in which the artist calls for a dialogue between art and nature.

Artist Biography:

Liu Bolin was born in China in Shandong in 1973. He received a bachelor’s and then master’s degree in art at the Central Academy of Arts in Beijing. His works have been exhibited around the world, including at the Pompidou Center (Paris, France); at the National Gallery of Modern Art (Rome, Italy); at the UN headquarters (lobby of the main entrance) and the UN Headquarters (New York, USA). The artist’s works are included in important collections, including the Unicredit Group (Milan, Italy), the Société Générale collection (France), the Fotografiska Museum (Stockholm, Sweden) and the Fondation Ariane de Rothschild (Madrid, Spain).