It's often said that there's always a piece of the artist in any work they produce. Yet it's rare to see them merge so seamlessly with their work as Liu Bolin. Where's Wally has nothing on this guy.
He carefully paints himself to merge in with his background, picking the most complex of settings in which to camouflage himself, whether that be supermarket shelves filled with brightly coloured products or Van Gogh's Starry Night.
He clearly likes a challenge — chameleons and the armed forces could both learn a thing or two about camouflage from him. Sometime he's in his work, other times he uses models and when he's really looking to push the boat out, works can include multiple people.
See if you can spot him in these photographs and then visit the Mayfair exhibition of his work. It really needs to be seen up close to truly appreciate the care and attention to detail in each of his photographs.
Liu Bolin: Vanishing Point will be on at BAFA Contemporary UK, 105 New Bond Street from 20 June-5 September 2018. Entrance is free.
