Believe it or not, there is a person standing in front of the magazine rack.

If you look just below the middle of the top white shelf, you can make out the face.

This is the work of Chinese artist Liu Bolin who had an exhibition recently where he displayed a dozen of these photographs..

How is it done?

After selecting a background that is often an urban landmark or place of personal relevance, the artist poses before the site dressed in a Chinese army uniform. Assistants then meticulously paint Liu’s body, face and uniform to merge him seamlessly into the background creating simultaneously a slow disappearing act as well as an embodiment and reflection of his environment. This chameleonic process can sometimes take up to 10 hours at a time. Upon completion of the body painting, a photograph is taken of the scene and performance.

(Via David Pescovitz.)