Magda Danysz Gallery announces Liu Bolin's latest solo exhibition "The Distance to The Eyes" opening May 23

TEXT:Sue Wang    DATE: 2015.5.19

Poster of The Distance to The Eyes - Liu Bolin

On the occasion of Liu Bolin's third solo show at Magda Danysz Gallery, this internationally famous artist, whose the nickname is "the invisible man", shows a new series of unpublished photographs. MD Gallery is pleased to announce Liu Bolin’s solo exhibition with a new series of work: “The Distance to The Eyes” opening on May 23rd. As the artist shares “in my latest solo show I explore what, in an era of intense virtualization, remains real. Is what we see really what we get?” For this series Liu Bolin has hacked institutional websites where some images have been changed. He has taken away the original image to replace it with one of his. Barely visible the artist hides in those pictures. The only thing one can see is the light in his hand. It is a light he tries to shed on reality.

“With this new step I am no longer the “Invisible Man”, I am more an art whistleblower trying to raise the awareness of people about the power of images”, adds Liu Bolin. By hacking institutional websites and changing one of their images Liu Bolin wishes to reflect upon the internet era and where the real power lays. The series is like a performance inside the worldwide web. Internet changes the way people communicate and how they get the information. “It is the beginning of a new world”, says Liu Bolin, the “Network Age” will have the humans change. In opposition to our traditional philosophy, people are now facing a new challenge in terms of ethics and legal values. It is a dive into the unknown.

Liu Bolin adds : “There is always a deeper meaning to an image, it questions the human soul and spirit. In this new series I challenge the power of the images changing the original ones. It is an attempt to start a war against the images”.

Liu Bolin is part of this generation of Chinese artists who are very sensitive to political, economic, social and environmental transformations of their country. With his series "Hiding in the City", started in 2005, he became a national and international symbol, sometimes admired, sometimes controversial. From this period he is still working on this approach and he brushes himself from head to feet with the aim to hide himself in various places. Each time he chooses supermarkets, historical monuments or jewels of architecture which become symbols of the contemporary society. His works, between "photography and performance" according to art critic Philippe Dagen, reveals the delicate balance of our modern world. In this exhibition, Liu Bolin continues his own thinking on the evolution of the society and gives us a look particularly relevant on the contemporaneity. Nowadays recognized all over the world as one of the most famous photographers of his generation; Liu Bolin doesn’t lack of daring. This exhibition is an opportunity to discover all the talent of this great artist, from historical works to his most recent pieces.

Nowadays recognized all over the world as one of the most famous photographers of his generation; Liu Bolin doesn’t lack of daring. This exhibition is an opportunity to discover all the talent of this great artist, from historical works to his most recent pieces.

About the exhibition

Dates: May 23, 2015 - Jul 3, 2015

Opening: May 23, 2015, 16:00, Saturday

Venue: Magda Danysz Gallery

Courtesy of the artist and Magda Danysz Gallery, for further information please visit www.magda-gallery.com.