Tales from the Island of Serendip 4 4

[Flex Mentallo]

"From 1998 to 2000, over 21 million workers in China were laid off, including the six people in this photograph from the 706 factory. The slogan above their heads reads 'The Communist Party of China is the core driving force behind the leadership of our cause,' and it had motivated them to work with great passion while employed in the factory. China's recent economization marginalized these people; they are slowly eliminated, replaced, or laid off. This left the ageing former workers living hand-to-mouth and facing the cancellation of their medical benefits."

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Liu Bolin’s “Hiding in the City” series stems from his questioning of, and reflection on, the development of manmade civilization and its social problems.

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His work illustrates that amid the accelerating progress of society, our living environment has significantly improved, while humans are becoming increasing lost about the meaning and value of self.

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Sometimes even allowing the self to disintegrate.

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The artist’s Chinese army training uniform and disappearance into the background are deliberate and metaphoric gestures of protest against this loss.

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In terms of subjects, “Hiding in the City” covers sudden changes in our material environment.

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The drastic yet subtle change in human nature.

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People’s decrying of the pollution of food, water, air or even “spirit” in recent decades.

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An invisible sense of helplessness in society - all of which are constantly transforming through time and space.

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In a recent work titled "Dongji (Winter Solstice)", Bolin took a political stance on the environment, commenting on the air pollution crisis happening in China.

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"I always use my works to question and rethink the inequality and imbalance caused by the process of human development"

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In 2015 Liu hacked into 8 countries web sites and digitally inserted himself into the online photographs.

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In September 2016, Liu's studio released "The Future" - a photograph of the artist painted into a vibrant backdrop of flags from all 193 United Nations member states. Spread among these are square blocks of 17 UN Global Goals -- including "no poverty" and "climate action."

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This mural, which conceals both Liu Bolin and Bon Jovi, became the album cover for Bon Jovi's What About Now.

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The background mural was designed by Alex Haldi.

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But in the contemporary art world, an artist that draws international fame, often faces the danger of being pigeon-holed into repeating the same act.

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“To touch someone, an artist must exhibit not just technique, but also the artist’s thinking and struggle in life.”

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Liu sees himself as an outsider whose artistic efforts are not appreciated, especially in his home country.

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"I have never thought to stop 'disappearing.' The society we live in is changing tremendously everyday. The background I use today, might be gone tomorrow."

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