CATCH HIM IF YOU CAN

The 9th edition of the Singapore International Photography Festival features renowned Chinese performance artist and photographer Liu Bolin, who debuts his iconic Hiding In The City series in South-east Asia. Known for his invisible” art, Liu challenges perceptions of visibility and presence.

- Shintaro Tay Photojournalist

Back straight, arms by his side, Chinese artist Liu Bolin stood still and resolute at Merlion Park on Oct 17 as paint was smudged on his face, which was beaded with sweat.

The military-style outfit he was wearing had been painted by his assistants in horizontal bands of greys, olive and white, before details from the surroundings were added.

Finishing touches added, the crew got behind the camera. From the correct angle, he was rendered nearly invisible by their brushwork, blending right into the background.

Known as "The Invisible Man", 51-year-old Liu has gained international recognition for his photographic self-portraits, where he is painted from head to toe to hide in plain sight against an eclectic array of backdrops.

From the Great Wall of China to the Colosseum in Rome, Liu has made himself a canvas in more than 20 countries around the world over the last two decades.

By blending into the background through his art, he aims to show how people can become overlooked or marginalised in society. "As an artist, it's essential to find a way to communicate with the world. Being invisible is like a language I've created to interact and express my view of the world," he said.

When he was growing up, Liu's parents wanted him to become a civil servant, but he persevered in his passion in pursuing art.

In 2005, Liu began his Hiding In The City series as an expression of how he felt when the authorities in 2005 demolished his studio, which was part of an artists' village, to make way for construction projects for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Now a lecturer at his alma mater, Beijing's Central Academy of Fine Arts, he advises young artists: "Be imaginative, be sensitive to societal issues, and uncover things people may overlook because that's where true gold may lie. And continually strive to pursue your dreams."