ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Liu Bolin - Artist
Beijing-based artist Liu Bolin silently comments on modern sociopolitical conditions by disappearing into his art.

Why you should listen

Artist Liu Bolin began his "Hiding in the City" series in 2005, after Chinese police destroyed Suo Jia Cun, the Beijing artists' village in which he'd been working, because the government did not want artists working and living together. With the help of assistants, he painstakingly painted his clothes, face, and hair to blend into the background of a demolished studio.

Since then, the so-called "Invisible Man" has photographed himself fading into a variety of backgrounds all over Beijing. Spot him embedded in a Cultural Revolution slogan painted on a wall, or spy him within tiers of supermarket shelves stocked with soft drinks. Just as with Bolin himself, the contradictions and confusing narratives of China's post-Cultural Revolution society are often hiding in plain sight.

More profile about the speaker
Liu Bolin | Speaker | TED.com
TED2013

Liu Bolin: The invisible man

刘勃麟: 隐形人

Filmed:
1,366,036 views

人能否在众目睽睽下消失? 这似乎是刘勃麟在其獨特的作品中所询问的问题。有时,這位駐北京的艺术家被称为“隐形人”,因为几乎在他所有的作品里,他永遠處於画面的正前方与正中心,同時,完全隱沒不见。借由溶解到背景之中的艺术行为,他呼吁人们关注隐含其中的社会与政治问题。
- Artist
Beijing-based artist Liu Bolin silently comments on modern sociopolitical conditions by disappearing into his art. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:14
Liu Bolin博林: By making制造 myself invisible无形,
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我的作品里面是用我自己身体的消失
00:18
I try to question the inter-canceling相互抵消 relationship关系
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来质疑人类创造的文明
00:21
between之间 our civilization文明 and its development发展.
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以及人自身发展所互相制约的关系。
00:25
Interpreter翻译员: By making制造 myself invisible无形, I try to explore探索 and question
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用我自己身体的消失,来探索、并质疑
00:27
the contradictory矛盾 and often经常 inter-canceling相互抵消 relationship关系
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人类创造的文明以及人自身发展的
00:31
between之间 our civilization文明 and its development发展.
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矛盾、和经常性的互相制约关系。
00:36
LB: This is my first work, created创建 in November十一月 2005.
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这是我的第一件作品,是在 2005 年的十一月。
00:41
And this is Beijing北京 International国际 Art艺术 Camp where I worked工作
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我所在的索家村国际艺术营
00:44
before the government政府 forcibly强制 demolished拆除 it.I used this work to express表现 my objection异议.
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被政府强行拆掉,我用这个作品来表达我的抗议,
00:48
I also want to use this work to let more people
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也想用这件作品来引起更多的人
00:53
pay工资 attention注意 to the living活的 condition条件 of artists艺术家 and the condition条件 of their creative创作的 freedom自由.
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对艺术家生存状态以及艺术创作自由的关注。
00:56
In the meantime与此同时, from the beginning开始, this series系列 has a
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同时,我这个系列的开始
00:58
protesting抗议, reflective反光
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也注定了它抗议、反思,以及
01:03
and uncompromising坚定的 spirit精神.
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毫不妥协的精神。
01:05
When applying应用 makeup化妆, I borrow a sniper's狙击手的 method方法
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我在化妆的时候借用了狙击手的化妆方法,
01:09
to better protect保护 myself
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这样呢可以更好地保护自己
01:12
and to detect检测 the enemy敌人, as he did. (Laughter笑声)
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以及发现敌人,像他一样。(笑)
01:16
After finishing精加工 this series系列 of protests抗议,
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抗议这个系列做完以后,
01:20
I started开始 questioning疑问 why my fate命运 was like this,
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我开始质问我的命运为什么有如此遭遇。
01:24
and I realized实现 that it's not just me --
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我发现不光我一个人,所有的中国人,
01:27
all Chinese中文 are as confused困惑 as I am.
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都有和我一样的困惑。
01:31
As you can see, these works作品
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大家看到的这些作品,
01:33
are about family家庭 planning规划, election选举 in accordance按照 with the law
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关于计划生育、依法选举,以及
01:40
and propaganda宣传 of the institution机构 of the People's人们 Congress国会.
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宣传人民代表大会制度的。
01:44
This work is called Xia Gang结伙 ("leaving离开 post岗位").
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这件作品的题目叫“下岗”,
01:46
"Xia Gang结伙" is a Chinese中文 euphemism婉辞 for "laid铺设 off".
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下岗是一个中国语境的词汇,它是指离开工作岗位,
01:50
It refers to those people who lost丢失 their jobs工作 during China's中国的 transition过渡 from a planned计划 economy经济 to a market市场 economy经济.
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是指中国在由计划经济往市场经济
转型过程中失去工作岗位的这些人。
01:57
From 1998 to 2000,
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从 1998 年到 2000 年
01:59
21.37 million百万 people
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两年期间,在中国失去工作的这些人
02:02
lost丢失 their jobs工作 in China中国.
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就有 2137 万人。
02:05
The six people in the photo照片
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照片中的 6 个人,
02:08
are Xia Gang结伙 workers工人.
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就是下岗职工,
02:10
I made制作 them invisible无形 in the deserted废弃的 shop wheretheywherethey had lived生活 and worked工作 all their lives生活.
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我把他们消失在他们曾经
工作生活了一辈子的废弃的车间里面。
02:15
On the wall behind背后 them is the slogan口号 of the Cultural文化 Revolution革命:
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后面的墙上写着文革时期的标语:
02:17
"The core核心 force leading领导 our cause原因 forward前锋 is the Chinese中文 Communist共产 Party派对."
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“领导我们事业的核心力量是中国共产党”。
02:21
For half a month
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我用了半个月的时间,
02:23
I looked看着 for these 6 people to participate参加 in my work.
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来找这 6 个人参与我的作品。
02:25
We can only see six men男人 in this picture图片,but in fact事实, those who are hidden here
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我们在照片中看到的只有 6 个人,
但其实,在这隐藏的,
02:30
are all people who were laid铺设 off. They have just been made制作 invisible无形.
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是所有有下岗经历的这些人,
他们只是被隐形了。
02:35
This piece is called The Studio工作室.
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这件作品叫“直播间”。
02:38
This spring弹簧,
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今年春天,
02:39
I happened发生 to have an opportunity机会 during my solo独奏 exhibition展览 in Paris巴黎
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我在巴黎的个展正好有机会
02:41
to shoot射击 a work in the news新闻 studio工作室 of France法国 3 --
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在法国电视三台的新闻直播间拍一件作品,
02:47
I picked采摘的 the news新闻 photos相片 of the day.
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我挑选的当天发生的这些新闻图片,
02:49
One is about the war战争 in the Middle中间 East,
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一张是关于中东战争,
02:52
and another另一个 one is about a public上市 demonstration示范 in France法国.
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另外一张是关于法国民众的示威游行。
02:56
I found发现 that any culture文化 has its irreconcilable不可调和 contradictions矛盾.
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我发现任何文化都有它不可调和的矛盾。
03:01
This is a joint联合 effort功夫 between之间 me and French法国 artist艺术家 JRJR.
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这件作品是我和法国艺术家 JR 的合作。
03:04
Interpreter翻译员: This is a joint联合 effort功夫 between之间 me and French法国 artist艺术家 JRJR.
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这件作品是我和法国艺术家 JR 的合作。
03:09
(Applause掌声)
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(鼓掌)
03:13
LB: I tried试着 to disappear消失 into JR'sJR的 eye,
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我把 JR 消失到我的眼睛里面,
03:16
but the problem问题 is JRJR only uses使用 models楷模 with big eyes眼睛.
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但是 JR 的所有作品里面的模特眼睛都特别大,
03:20
So I tried试着 to make my eyes眼睛 bigger with my fingers手指.
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我其实我做这个动作是想让我的眼睛更大一点,
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But still they are not big enough足够 for JRJR, unfortunately不幸.
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可是没办法,我眼睛还是那么小。
03:25
Interpreter翻译员: So I tried试着 to disappear消失 into JR'sJR的 eye,
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我试着消失到 JR 的眼睛里面,
03:28
but the problem问题 is JRJR uses使用 only models楷模 with big eyes眼睛.
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但是 JR 的所有作品里面的模特眼睛都特别大,
03:31
So I tried试着 to make my eyes眼睛 bigger with this gesture手势.
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我做这个手势是想让我的眼睛更大一点,
03:34
But it doesn't work, my eyes眼睛 are still small.
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可是没办法,我眼睛对 JR 来说还是不够大。(笑)
03:39
LB: This one is about 9/11 memories回忆.
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这件作品是关于 911 的一些回忆。
03:47
This is an aircraft飞机 carrier支架 moored停泊 alongside并肩 the Hudson哈德森 River.
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这是在哈得逊河的旁边停靠的航空母舰。
03:52
Kenny肯尼 Scharf's沙尔夫的 graffiti涂鸦.
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肯尼·沙尔夫的涂鸦 (Kenny Scharf Mural)
03:56
(Laughter笑声)
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(笑)
04:00
This is Venice威尼斯, Italy意大利.
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这是在意大利的威尼斯,
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Because global全球 temperatures温度 rise上升,
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因为全球的温度升高,
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the sea level水平 rises上升, and it is said thatVenicethatVenice will disappear消失 in the coming未来 decades几十年.
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海平面上涨,有消息称威尼斯
将在未来的几十年内消失。
04:15
This is the ancient city of Pompeii庞贝.
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这是意大利的庞贝古城,
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Interpreter翻译员: This is the ancient city of Pompeii庞贝.
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这是意大利的庞贝古城,
04:29
LB: This is the Borghese贝佳斯 Gallery画廊
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这是罗马的
04:31
in Rome罗马.
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博尔盖塞美术馆 (Borghese Gallery)。
04:34
When I work on a new piece, I pay工资 more attention注意 to the expression表达 of ideas思路.
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我在拍新作品的时候,
我会更加注重思想的表达。
04:39
For instance, why would I make myself invisible无形?
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比如说我为什么要消失,我消失在这儿
04:41
What will making制造 myself invisible无形 here cause原因 people to think?
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会引起人们什么样的思考。
05:03
This one is called Instant瞬间 Noodles面条.
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这件作品的题目叫“方便面”。
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Interpreter翻译员: This one is called Instant瞬间 Noodles面条. (Laughter笑声)
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这件作品的题目叫“方便面”。(笑)
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LB: Since以来 August八月 2012,
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从 2012 年的 8 月,
05:14
harmful有害 phosphors荧光粉 have been found发现
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在中国超市里各大知名的
桶装方便面品牌的杯包装里,
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in the instant瞬间 noodle面条 package cups from every一切 famous著名 brand sold出售 in China's中国的 supermarkets超级市场.
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都发现了有害的荧光粉,
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These phosphors荧光粉 can even cause原因 cancer癌症.
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这些荧光粉甚至可以致癌。
05:24
To create创建 this artwork艺术品,
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我为了拍这件作品,
05:26
I bought a lot of packaged包装 instant瞬间 noodle面条 cups
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我又买了大量的桶装方便面,
05:28
and put them in my studio工作室, making制造 it look like a supermarket超级市场.
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在我的工作室里做成超市的样子。
05:31
And my task任务 is to stand there, trying to be still,
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然后我的任务就是站在那儿,尽量不动,
05:33
setting设置 up the camera相机 position位置 and coordinating协调 with my assistant助理
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摆好相机的位置,然后配合我的助手。
05:38
and drawing画画 the colors颜色 and shapes形状 that are behind背后 my body身体
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把我身体后面挡住的一些颜色和形状
05:41
on the front面前 of my body身体. If the background背景 is simple简单,
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在我身体前面画出来。如果背景简单的话,
05:45
I usually平时 have to stand for three to four hours小时.
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我一般要站三到四个小时。
05:48
The background背景 of this piece is more complex复杂,
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像这件作品背景比较复杂,
05:50
so I need three to four days in advance提前 for preparation制备.
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我一般就需要提前三到四天就开始准备。
05:55
This is the suit适合 I wore穿着 when I did the supermarket超级市场 shoot射击.
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我身上这件衣服就是拍这件作品的时候完成的,
05:58
There is no PhotoshopPhotoshop中 involved参与.
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没有任何电脑的痕迹。
06:00
Interpreter翻译员: This is the suit适合 I [was] wearing穿着 when I did the supermarket超级市场 shoot射击.
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我身上这件衣服就是在超市
拍这件作品时所穿的衣服,
06:06
There is no PhotoshopPhotoshop中 involved参与. (Laughter笑声)
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没有使用任何 Photoshop 修图。(笑)
06:12
LB: These works作品 are on China's中国的 cultural文化 memories回忆.
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这几件作品是关于中国的文化记忆。
06:24
And this one,
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还有这种,
06:26
this is about food餐饮 safety安全 in China中国.
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这是关于中国的食品安全。
06:28
Unsafe不安全 food餐饮 can harm危害 people's人们 health健康,
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不安全的食品可以危害人的身体,
06:34
and a deluge洪水 of magazines杂志 can confuse迷惑 people's人们 minds头脑. (Laughter笑声)
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然后泛滥的杂志可以迷惑人的心智。(笑)
06:38
The next下一个 pieces of work show显示 how I made制作 myself invisible无形 in magazines杂志 of different不同 languages语言,
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接下来的几件作品都是我在不同国家、
06:41
in different不同 countries国家 and at different不同 times.
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不同时间,我把自己消失在不同文字的杂志里。
06:46
I think that in art艺术, an artist's艺术家 attitude态度 is the most important重要 element元件.
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我觉得在艺术作品中,艺术家的态度最重要。
06:51
If an artwork艺术品 is to touch触摸 someone有人,
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艺术作品如果想打动别人,
06:55
it must必须 be the result结果 of not only technique技术, but also the artist's艺术家 thinking思维 and struggle斗争 in life.
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不仅仅是它的技巧,同样是它的思考
06:59
And the repeated重复 struggles斗争 in life create创建 artwork艺术品,
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和生命挣扎,而一次次的生命挣扎就会成为艺术作品,
07:03
no matter in what form形成.
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不管它的形式是什么。
07:09
(Music音乐)
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(音乐)
07:30
That's all I want to say.
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我所要说的就到此为止。
07:31
Thank you. (Applause掌声)
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谢谢。(鼓掌)
Translated by Zhihua Dong
Reviewed by Geoff Chen

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Liu Bolin - Artist
Beijing-based artist Liu Bolin silently comments on modern sociopolitical conditions by disappearing into his art.

Why you should listen

Artist Liu Bolin began his "Hiding in the City" series in 2005, after Chinese police destroyed Suo Jia Cun, the Beijing artists' village in which he'd been working, because the government did not want artists working and living together. With the help of assistants, he painstakingly painted his clothes, face, and hair to blend into the background of a demolished studio.

Since then, the so-called "Invisible Man" has photographed himself fading into a variety of backgrounds all over Beijing. Spot him embedded in a Cultural Revolution slogan painted on a wall, or spy him within tiers of supermarket shelves stocked with soft drinks. Just as with Bolin himself, the contradictions and confusing narratives of China's post-Cultural Revolution society are often hiding in plain sight.

More profile about the speaker
Liu Bolin | Speaker | TED.com

THE ORIGINAL VIDEO ON TED.COM