Can You Spot The Artist?
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All artists are passionate and close to their creations, but very few can claim to be as connected to their masterpieces as 38-year old Liu Bolin, who literally melts into them - Sometimes so effectively, that it is tough to find him.
Also known as the Invisible Artist, Liu's urban camouflage paintings began as a way to make a political statement. It all happened shortly after the young artist graduated from China's prestigious Central Academy of Fine Arts. Unable to find a suitable job, he settled down with a number of fellow artists at the Soukia Village Art Campus in Beijing. However, the Chinese Government forced them to shut it down, simply because they were not too thrilled about contemporary artists getting together all the time.
This early experience of how people without jobs, homes or any kind of social status feel, is what steered him to create his rather unusual paintings. According to him, the artist in each painting is hiding in order to protect himself, whilst he restores his strength.
As you can imagine, the art he creates is not easy. He starts by finding an image that he wishes to disappear into and then, poses besides to get blended in - A process that sometimes involves not moving a limb, for ten hours at a time.
Over the years, the artist has merged himself into all kinds of places - Ranging from the Great Wall of China to rubble caused by the Sichuan earthquake. In a series of works entitled 'Hiding in Italy', he blended into famous historic places like Venice's Piazza San Marco and Milan's Duoma di Milano. He has even painted himself into supermarket shelves and best of all, the American Flag!
Sources:swide.com,dailymail.co.uk,demilked.com
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410 Comments
- nikukyuover 9 yearsAnwser to the title: I can! But the artist is really good at blending in!
- Meover 9 yearsImagine how uncomfortable it is to stand there... covered in paint.... in your hair.....
- Meover 9 yearsThat's awesome. I found them all. and I knew he wasn't in the gray brick one :) dude I wanna be like you that's awesome.
- turtlenicolealmost 10 yearsPerfect camoflage!
- spinnypeepsalmost 10 yearsAwesome! I want to be painted on!
- cbear5almost 10 yearsI am so surprised! How did they come up with this idea?
- sarahalmost 10 yearsI found then all
- kell-bellabout 10 yearsWow! That is amazing! It is sad that the government shut down his job. ;(
- lionsrcute1about 10 yearsWhoa.... It was easy though. If i wasn't paying attention, it would work
- otterover 10 yearsI like to the first video! (be sure to watch the whole thing)