‘ Ghost Stories ’ － Liu Bo Lin
Most of Liu’s artwork focus on the themes of politics, tradition and Chinese culture and the freedom of press. He combines photography, living sculpture, body art and optical art to create a collection of riveting and captivating art pieces.
Hiding in the City No. 36, ‘Unify for the Thought to Promote Education’, 2007
120 x 150 cm
The theme is presented to us by the bold, red words which are centred in this art piece:
統一思想 宣傳教育
which means ‘Unify for the Thought to Promote Education’, as the title stated.
The photograph is taken in wide shot on eye level, having only little depth of view. The setting is plain and senile, most likely shot in a rural alley. The warm tone present in the photo complements the graffiti message written on the wall, putting emphasis on it therefore catching the viewer’s attention right away.
The message in the photograph manifests the education system in China. It criticises the dark side of the government and the society’s view towards the importance of education in the 21st century. Liu’s camouflaged body is quite obvious in this photo; he is painted in white which may perhaps indicate the idea of being ‘ghostly’, representing the people in China who feel invisible as the government neglects them.
