A 'human chameleon' has mastered the art of camouflage and makes himself practically invisible — see if you can find him

Liu Bolin
Chinese artist Liu Bolin spends up to 10 hours getting his body painted until he's practically invisible China Daily China Daily Information Corp - CDIC

Chinese artist Liu Bolin has an amazing talent. He can blend into any surroundings he chooses, making himself, or his subjects, practically undetectable to the human eye.

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Bolin, known to many as the "Human Chameleon", decorates the body and clothes with color, painting himself and his subjects into the surroundings, making them almost imperceptible at first glance. He sees his work as a type of political protest, and a way of hiding from the authorities.

His work has been exhibited all over the world and can be seen in his book "Liu Bolin: The Invisible Man." Bolin has shared his recent works with us, courtesy of Liu Bolin Art Studio and Klein Sun Gallery. We've combined those photos with others taken by Reuters photographers. 

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Here, Bolin is being painted by his assistants to match the wall of an old temple in central Beijing.

Liu Bolin
David Gray/Reuters

Bolin must remain very still as he gets painted.

Liu Bolin
David Gray/Reuters
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The process can take up to 10 hours at a time.

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Courtesy Klein Sun Gallery, © Liu Bolin

He matches up with this massive Jackson Pollock painting perfectly.

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Courtesy Klein Sun Gallery, © Liu Bolin
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Graffiti and street art play an important role in Bolin's work. Here he is in front of Queens' famous graffiti mecca, 5 Pointz, which has unfortunately since been knocked down.

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Courtesy Klein Sun Gallery, © Liu Bolin
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In Colombia, Bolin poses in front of some graffiti.

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Courtesy Klein Sun Gallery, © Liu Bolin

Here's Bolin blending in at the 7 July Memorial in London's Hyde Park.

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Courtesy Klein Sun Gallery, © Liu Bolin
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Some of his pieces are more intricate. Here, he stands in front of the Hollywood sign in California.

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Courtesy Klein Sun Gallery, © Liu Bolin

Bolin, seen or not seen in a London metro station, spends countless hours preparing for his images.

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Courtesy Klein Sun Gallery, © Liu Bolin
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Sometimes they appear to be slightly easier to pull off.

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Courtesy Klein Sun Gallery, © Liu Bolin

Others, like this shot in front of an Italian magazine rack, are mind-blowing.

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Courtesy Klein Sun Gallery, © Liu Bolin
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Much of his work carries a personal or political message.

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Courtesy Klein Sun Gallery, © Liu Bolin

Bolin is interested in the relationship between objects and the people who use them. For this shot, taken in the Colombia Gold Museum, Bolin "wanted to express my idea through the currency, to reflect the relationship between money and people," he told Reuters.

Liu_Bolin_Hiding_in_Colombia_Gold_Museum_photograph_2013
Courtesy Klein Sun Gallery, © Liu Bolin
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Here, Bolin blends into the vegetable section of a supermarket in Beijing.

Liu Bolin
China Daily China Daily Information Corp - CDIC

The process becomes even more taxing when multiple people are in the shot.

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Courtesy Klein Sun Gallery, © Liu Bolin
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The work is challenging, but the payoff is worth it.

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Courtesy Klein Sun Gallery, © Liu Bolin

Bolin gave a TED talk in California in 2013, blending in even when he was on stage.

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Courtesy Klein Sun Gallery, © Liu Bolin
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