“Doku” is the name of Lu Yang’s digital, gender-neutral avatar. In DOKU the Self (2022), they embark on a virtual transformative journey, assuming six different forms: God, Titan (“Asura”), human, animal, hungry spirit, and hellish creature. These figures correspond to the six realms of the Buddhist wheel of life and death (“Samsara”).
The work combines East Asian philosophy with contemporary 3D technology, posing profound questions about the body, consciousness, and human existence. Lu Yang challenges Western notions of a fixed, individual self and conceives of identity as a fluid, virtually transformable experience that transcends analog and digital boundaries.
Drawing on visual references from anime, science fiction, and computer games, Lu Yang creates a striking visual world in which myth and spirituality intersect with technology, science, and pop culture. DOKU the Self premiered in 2022 at the 59th Venice Biennale.