Liu Bolin and the art of concealment

Liu's artworks, collectively entitled Hiding in the City, came into being after his Beijing art studio was shut down by the Chinese authorities in 2005. The government had stipulated that it didn't want artists gathering and working together Photograph: Caters News Agency Photograph: guardian.co.uk Painted patriotism ... Liu sees his work as a protest against the Chinese government's persecution of artists Photograph: Caters News Agency Photograph: guardian.co.uk Keeping it street ... Liu has said that his art is influenced by his sense of not fitting in with modern society Photograph: Caters News Agency Photograph: guardian.co.uk ... and yet he can camouflage himself against any background, no matter how complicated Photograph: Caters News Agency Photograph: guardian.co.uk Can you see him blending in with a red telephone box? Photograph: Caters News Agency Photograph: guardian.co.uk ... or merging with a monument? Photograph: Caters News Agency Photograph: guardian.co.uk Even earthquake rubble is no match for this master of disguise Photograph: Caters News Agency Photograph: guardian.co.uk ... who can seemingly weld himself to a wall Photograph: Caters News Agency Photograph: guardian.co.uk ... be someone's imaginary friend Photograph: Caters News Agency Photograph: guardian.co.uk ... and melt into machinery. Or is he even there at all? Photograph: Caters News Agency Photograph: guardian.co.uk