The present work is part of Chinese performance artist and photographer Liu Bolin's Hiding in the City series, initiated in 2005. Originally trained as a sculptor, Liu began using photography when his studio in the small village of Suo Jia Chun was destroyed, as a consequence of China’s reconstruction project for the Beijing Olympic Games. In protest of the unauthorized destruction, Liu covered himself in paint to blend in with the ruins. Since then the project has continued across the globe, with Liu painting himself into urban spaces on nearly every continent. His message has evolved as well, moving from local to global concerns as times goes on. What began as a silent protest against the social and environmental consequences of China's rapid development, has now become a larger philosophical exploration of human relationships to urban space in light of history, culture, and identity.

Known by some as "The Invisible Man," Liu Bolin (b. 1973) was born in Shandong, China, and received his MFA from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing in 2001. He garnered international recognition for his Hiding in the City series, which is a still ongoing project. Liu's work is collected and exhibited globally, including at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris, France (2017, forthcoming); Kunstverein Ludwigsburg, Germany (2013); Fotografiska Museet, Stockholm, Sweden (2011); El Museo de Bellas Artes de Caracas, Venezuela (2010); CAFA Art Museum, Beijing, China (2016);The Courtauld Institute of Art, Somerset House, London, UK (2015), among many others. The artist currently lives and works in Beijing.