Invisible Identities: Artworks inspired by Liu Bolin

Inspired by the work of Chinese artist Liu Bolin, often known as “The Invisible Man” for his ability to blend into various backgrounds, this creative assessment for the China Studies module CCS110 Aesthetics, Art and Design in China, invites students to explore themes of identity, environment, and social commentary through visual art. They experiment with techniques of camouflage in order to consider what or who is rendered invisible or left unseen in contemporary China. Works consider the impacts of consumerism on the environment, contemplate the human cost of precarious and low-wage work, highlight the pressures on young people toiling through competitive educational and employment environments, and explore the impact that social media has had on our identities. These works remind us to open our eyes to those invisible identities that surround us in society: both those that we are accustomed to overlooking and those that we hide from others.