Liu Bolin, “The Invisible Man,” opens Wednesday, June 29th

Eli Klein cordially invites you to attend the reception and private viewing of Liu Bolin’s solo exhibition: The Invisible Man. Please join us at our New York gallery on Wednesday, June 29th from 6 – 9 PM. Liu Bolin will be present.

Liu Bolin’s The Invisible Man continues his exploration of Chinese national identity and the relationship between human beings and the environment. The large-scale photos on display will span his recent work and include his famed self-camouflage series Hiding in the City as well as Hiding in Italy. In one set of ten photographs, the artist pays tribute to the history of China and specifically Beijing. Liu Bolin chose the highly iconic site of the “Nine Dragon Wall” in Beihai Park to celebrate the grandeur of Chinese culture and history. The motif of the five-clawed dragon, symbol of Imperial power, chasing the enflamed pearl is prominent in Chinese classical tradition. The ceramic wall is also a magnificent illustration of Chinese artistic craftsmanship.

Shadow is Liu Bolin’s latest exploration of people and nature and one which questions our assumed ownership of the natural world. Photographed on the roads and roofs of Beijing, these new works depict outlines of Liu Bolin’s body after he has laid face-down on the asphalt or tiled roofs during periods of heavy rain. The diptych format shows Liu Bolin’s body alongside the “shadow” he leaves, the literal mark of humanity imprinted on the environment. This series is made especially poignant due to China’s rapid industrialization which has the effect of leading to the systematic destruction of the natural world.

Liu Bolin was born in China’s Shandong province in 1973, and earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Shandong College of Arts and his Master of Fine Arts from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. His work has been exhibited in museums around the world including recent solo exhibitions “Hiding in Italy,” Forma Centro Internazionale Di Fotografia, Milan (2010); “Hiding in the City,” Museo de Bellas Artes, Caracas (2010) and “Liu Bolin,” Fotografiska Museet, Stockholm (July, 2011).

The exhibition will be on view at Eli Klein Fine Art from June 29th through August 28th, 2011 and is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue with an essay by Zuelva Vivas. The artist will be present for the opening reception on Wednesday, June 29th from 6 – 9 PM.

Liu Bolin will be creating a series of Hiding in New York photographs throughout the month of June. For further information, please contact the gallery at (212) 255-4388 or info@ekfineart.com.