Eyes Blindfolded
The series is composed of monochromatic red or white boys that are hiding their eyes. In these pieces of work, Liu plays with the contrast between the use of a bright colour and a smooth material cast in a positive physical pose (youthful bodies, radiant smiles, arched and energetic positions...) - elements that easily draw your attention - and the handicap that characterises each one of these young boys since they are all deprived of their sight. These figures are portrayed at a particularly influencable age to powerfully reflect a generation seeking to free itself from a simplistic education with little choice but to obey. These little men seem to be saying "but I didn't know, I'm not informed of anything" and as they seem unaware of the world around them they are no doubt saved from much pain. Whether they are born blind or blinded by others, they remain dependent on those that govern them and appear fairly happy this way. Liu Bolin created them in series, like branded products en masse.
In Red Hands, people become blind.
Liu Bolin creates a world that appears to be fun and full of bright colours but is in reality uncaring, a reflection of the post Cultural Revolution era to which he belongs. Liu, who considers himself a more realistic than idealistic artist, has managed to express visually a feeling of unease, according to which, despite appearances, everything is not quite right.
1973
Born in Shandong; he currently lives in Beijing
1995
Graduated From Shandong Art College, Shandong, China
2001
Graduated with a M.F.A. From The Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2013
"Liu Bolin," Kunstverein Ludwigsburg, Ludwigsburg, Germany
"Liu Bolin, Camouflages Urbains" Fondation d'Entreprise Espace Écureuil Pour l'Art Contemporain, Toulouse, France
"Liu Bolin: The Invisible Man," Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, Brattleboro, VT
"Mask," Eli Klein Fine Art, New York, NY
2012
"Liu Bolin," The Longyear Museum of Anthropology, Colgate University, Hamilton NY
"Liu Bolin," Photographers Limited Editions, Vienna, Austria
"Liu Bolin: A Secret Tour," Museo H.C. Andersen, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna, Rome, Italy
"Lost in Art," Eli Klein Fine Art, New York, NY
"The Invisible Man," Ekaterina Cultural Foundation, Moscow, Russia
"Liu Bolin: The Sociology of the Invisible Body," California State University Northridge Art Galleries, Northridge CA
2011
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, Paris-Beijing photo gallery 798 Art Zone, Beijing, China
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, Fotografiska Museum Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, Eli Klein Fine Art, New York, USA
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, Paris-Beijing Photo Gallery, Paris, France
2010
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, The Museum of Fine Art, Caracas Venezuela
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, Boxart Gallery, Verona, Italy
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, Eli Klein Fine Art, New York, USA
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, Young gallery, Belgium
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, Du Monde gallery, Hong Kong, China
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, Forma Centro Internazionale Di Fotografia, Milano, Italy
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, Sunshine Art International Museum, Song Zhuang Art Distict, Beijing China
2009
Sculptures of Liu Bolin, Yanwu Gallery, Beijing, China
"Hiding in The City," Galeria Tagomago, Barcelona, Spain
"Getting Accustomed to Being Impermanent," Vanguard Gallery, Shanghai, China
"Hiding in The City," Yu Gallery, Paris, France
2008
Liu Bolin: China Report 2007, Eli Klein Fine Art, New York, NY
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, Bertin--Toublanc Gallery, Paris, France
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, 798 Art Zone,Beijing, China
Lin Bolin Solo Exhibition, Bridge Art Center, Beijing, China
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, Eastlink Gallery, Shanghai, China
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, Hotsun Art Space, Beijing,China
Liu Bolin's live Solo Exhibition, Adler Gallery, Paris,France
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, Mediterrance Gallery, Palermo, Italy
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, Ifa Gallery, Shanghai, China
Liu Bolin solo Exhibition, Eli Klein Gallery, New York, USA
Liu Bolin Solo Exhibition, Bertin--Toublanc Gallery, Miami, USA
Sculpture Exhibition of Liu Bolin, Hotsun Art Space, Beijing, China
"Distortion"Exhibition of Liu Bolin, Hotsun Art Space, Beijing, China
Photo Solo Exhibition, Bertin-Toublanc Gallery Paris,France
2007
Sculpture, Beijing, China
Distortion, Beijing, China
Liu Bolin, Galerie Bertin-Toublanc, Paris, France
2006
Liu Bolin, Galerie Bertin-Toublanc, Paris, France
2001
Liu Bolin's Sculpture, Passage Gallery, Beijing, China
1998
Liu Bolin's Works, Ming Ren Gallery, China
Selected Group Exhibitions
2013
"TED 2013," The Long Beach Performing Arts Center, Long Beach, CA
"Portrait(s)," Culture Centre Valery Larbaud, Vichy, France
"Inner Journeys," Maison Paticulière Art Center, Brussels, Belgium
"Religion, Ritual, and Performance in Modern and Contemporary Art," Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
2012
"Changement de Décor," Festival des Arts Visuels de Vevey, Vevey, Switzerland
"Bienne Festival of Photography," Bienne, Switzerland
"Harper's Bazaar: Inside the Magazine," Yermilov Center, Kharkiv, Ukraine;
Korobchinskiy Center, Odessa, Ukraine; Izolyatsia, Donetsk, Ukraine; Museum of Modern Art, Kiev, Ukraine
"D.E.F.E.N.C.E. - A Consideration of Various Strategies in Biology, Politics, Economy, Technology, Military, Psychology, Society, and Culture," Vögele Kultur Zentrum, Pfäffikon, Switzerland
"Performing for the Camera," Arizona State University Art Museum, Tempe, AZ
2011
Black White, Zero Art Museum, Beijing, China
Fotografica Biennale , Museo de, Eli klein Fine Art gallery, USA
Fotografia, Bogota, Columbia
2010
Fine Art Asia 2010, Du Monde Gallery, Hong Kong, China.
28th Nomboo International, Tianjin Acadamy of Fine Arts Museum, Tianjing, China
"Armed & Dangerous: Art of the Arsenal", Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, USA
"A Show of Power: Talons, Swords, and Samurai," Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, USA
"Chasing Flames-Miami", Zadok Art Gallery's Inaugural Exhibition, Miami, USA
"Passing China", Sanatorium Istanbul, Turkey
"Incarnation Two" Photo Exhibition, Paris-Beijing Photo Gallery, Beijing, China
HOMELESS HOME, Society-Political Contemporary Art Museum, Israel
"Fist at Yongkang Lu Art", Ifa gallery, Shanghai, China
"Reflection of Minds", MoCA Shanghai Envisage3, MoCA, Shanghai, China
The 1st 798 Multimedia Art Festival, 798 Originality Square Introduction, Beijing, China
2009
Universe-Contemporary Chinese Art, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, U.S.A
Incarnation-Photos of Performance Art, Paris Photo Gallery, Beijing, China
Come From 5.8m, Li Space, Beijing China
"Out law"The Spring of Caochangdi, Beijing, China
"CAMUFLAJE" Foundation CAJA MADRID, LA CASA ENCENDIDA, Madrid, Spain
Korea International Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Seoul Museum, Korea
Blank Space 2009 Made in China, Intermediate Museum, Beijing, China
Shore-Institute of Contemporary Sculpture Exhibition, Moon River Museum, Beijing, China
4 Square, Vanguard gallery, Shanghai, China
Contemporary Sculpture And Installation Art Exhibition, 22 Street Art Zone, Beijing, China
2008
Face East-Chinese Contemporary Art, Robischon Gallery, Denver, CO
Out of Place, Robischon Gallery, Denver, CO
International Art Exhibition, SunshineMuseum, Songzhuang Art Zone, Beijing,China
"Being"Contemporary Art Exhibition, Jinan, Shandong, China
Chinese Contemporary Art Exhibition, Liverpool, UK
"Force-Form"International Contemporary Art Exhibition, Beijing, China
The Converted-Image, Dax Art Space, Beijing, China
Roma International Contemporary and Modern Art Center of International Exhibition, Roma, Italy
2007
Chinese Dream, Chinese Modern Art Exhibition, Adler Gallery, Paris, France
China Modern Art Exhibition, Mediterranee Gallery, Italy
China Now: Lost in Transition, Eli Klein Fine Art, New York, USA
Beyond The City, ifa Village Contemporary Art Centre, Shanghai, China
Made in China, Chinese Contemporary Art, Korea
Since, Gao Brothers Art Center, Beijing, China
Memory Exhibition Beijing, New York Art Center, 798 Art Zone, Beijing, China
New China, New Gallery, Houston, TX
Les Rencontres d'Arles, Arles, France
United Exhibition of Communities at The Foot of The Great Wall, Red Gate Gallery, Beijing, China
Union in June, Chinese Performance Art Exhibition, Songzhuang, Beijing, China
Made in China, Chinese Contemporary Art, Shanghai Duolun Museum of Modern Art, Shanghai, China
Group Exhibition of Chinese and Overseas Artists, No. 1 China Art Base, Beijing, China
After..., Modern Art Exhibition, Beijing New Art Projects, Beijing
Back, Hot Sun Art Space, Beijing, China
Resetting, Suo Jia Village Modern Art Exhibition, Beijing International Arts Camp II Ka Tsuen, Beijing, China
Off Center Generation-Post-1970s, Dashanzi75 Factory, Beijing, China
Chinese Performance Art Photos, Ying Gallery, Beijing, China
The 1st Breathing Shandong Modern Art Great Exhibition, Shandong Museum, Shandong, China
Computer Men Art Exhibition, Seasons Gallery, Beijing, China
Song Zhuang Art Festival-2007 Chinese Visual Files, Songzhuang Art Zone, China
Chinese and Chile Artists Made in Beijing-Chinese Contemporary Art, Korea
Olympic Sculptures International Exhibition, Millennium Monument, Beijing, China
Chinese Contemporary Art Exhibition, New Gallery, Houston, USA
"China Dream"Chinese Contemporary Art Exhibition, Adler Gallery, Paris, France
2006
China Modern Art Exhibition, Bertin-Toublanc Gallery, Paris, France
Contemporary Art Exhibition-"Visit by yourself", Songzhuang Art Zone, Beijing, China
Satellite 06 Contemporary Art and Design Show, Vanguard Gallery, Shanghai, China
The 2nd "impact power" Exhibition of Contemporary Art, The Best Gallery, Beijing, China
Beijing View Exhibition, Beijing New Project, Beijing, China
Art Beijing Paris, Agricultural Exhibition Center, Beijing, China
Songzhuang Art Festival, Songzhuang Art District, Beijing, China
Qingzhou International Contemporary Art Exhibition, Qingzhou Museum, Shandong, China
Redstar, Redstar, Redstar, RedStar Gallery, Beijing, China
Asian Contemporary Art Exhibition, Korea
Opening of Beijing Distillery Art District, Beijing, China
The New Beijing; The New Starting Point, Sculpture Exhibition for the 2008 Olympics, Jintai Gallery, Beijing, China
Grey Red, Beijing New Project, Beijing, China
Nan Jing "Reference Inside And Outside"Exhibition, Nanjing, China.
"Demolish-CHINA", 75Factory, Beijing, China
2005
Contemporary Art Exhibition of Dismantle, Xiyuantianlu Business Hotel, Beijing, China
Beijing Calligraphy Exhibition, Maside Art Center, Beijing, China
Lead Times, Chang Chau Chinese Contemporary Sculpture Exhibition, Tianjin Harbour Plaza, Tianjin, China
Di-Di-Dismantle, Beijing International Arts Camp II Ka Tsuen , Beijing, China
2001
"Life is Beautiful" -2001 West Lake, Hangzhou Art Museum, China
Considerable, West Lake International Sculpture Exhibition, Hangzhou Fine Art Museum, Hangzhou, China
The 2nd Invitational Sculpture Exhibition of Contemporary Young Sculptors, Hangzhou Fine Art Museum, Hangzhou, China
2000
Works Exhibition, The 1st China Sculpture Competition, China
1999
The 2nd Metals Work Exhibition, Passage Gallery, Beijing, China