The invisible man, Liu Bolin, in the palace of Gaviria

Description of project by Arthemisia 

On June 12, the Gaviria Palace will open to the public its new exhibition dedicated to Chinese photographer Liu Bolin. Under the title The Invisible Man, this retrospective will present to the Madrid public the work of an artist who has been described as "the invisible man" and whose work revolves around the performative art of camouflage.
 
The exhibition, organized by Arthemisia in collaboration with the Boxart Gallery in Verona, is divided into seven sections that include different thematic cycles of Bolin's work: his first works, made in 2005 and collected under the title Hiding in the City, his works about migration, his works in Italian cities or some advertising campaigns. The retrospective, which includes around 70 pieces, can be visited in Madrid until September 15, 2019.
 
Throughout his career, Liu Bolin has been photographed merging with great historical monuments, buildings, supermarkets, works of art, waste, etc. In his works almost always appears alone, mimicking the main subject of the image. However, in some of his series, such as the one titled Migrants that can also be seen in the Gaviria Palace, the artist represents the other side of the coin, collaborating with sub-Saharan immigrants who blend with beaches and boats to denounce one of the dramas of society in the 21st century.
 
Bolin, who works on his works with several disciplines -painting, installation and photography-, uses the idea of ​​camouflage to talk about social issues that affect the daily life of human beings. It is a silent protest, "transparent", that invites us to think about identity, about what we consume and what we are, as well as the problems that surround us. His works serve as a means to transmit seemingly hidden messages that invite the viewer to reflect.
 
Liu Bolin (Shandong, China, 1973) studied sculpture at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing and graduated with an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in 2001. Known as "the invisible man" among the media, Bolin tries the social concerns of their country of origin through their artistic work. His photographs have been exhibited in numerous museums and institutions around the world; He has also worked and collaborated with organizations, institutions and people such as the Louvre Museum, Harper's Bazaar Magazine, JR, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Jon Bon Jovi and Kenny Scharf.
 
This will be the first retrospective exhibition dedicated to Liu Bolin in Madrid and has already been presented by Arthemisia, with a great reception by the public, in the Complesso del Vittoriano - Ala Brasini in Rome (2018).