Liu Bolin is an artist from Shandong, China, who camouflaged himself into the surroundings. He claims his works as making a statement about his place in society. He sees himself as an outsider whose artistic efforts are not always valued, especially in his native country.
Standing silently in front of his chosen scene, in locations all around the world, the 36-year-old uses himself as a blank canvas. Then, with a little help from an assistant, he paints his body to merge as seamlessly as possible with what is behind him.
He added that the inspiration behind his work was a sense of not fitting in to modern society and was a silent protest against the persecution of artists. He said: 'Some people call me the invisible man, but for me it's what is not seen in a picture which is really what tells the story.
'After graduating from school I couldn't find suitable work and I felt there was no place for me in society.
I experienced the dark side of society, without social relations, and had a feeling that no one cared about me, I felt myself unnecessary in this world.''From that time, my attitude turned from dependence into revolting against the system.'
Liu said he was further pushed on with his work when the Chinese authorities shut down his art studio in Beijing in 2005.
