LuYang NetiNet｜Zabludowicz Collection

---

Enter the disorientating and darkly humorous worlds created by multimedia artist LuYang (b. 1984, Shanghai) for their first UK solo exhibition. Immersed in the cultures of anime, videogames and sci-fi, LuYang combines Buddhism, neuroscience and digital technology to investigate the mysteries and mechanics of the human body and mind.

The title LuYang NetiNeti incorporates the Sanskrit expression ‘neti neti’, meaning ‘neither this, nor that’. The Main Hall focuses on the artist’s own avatar, DOKU, created using CGI animation and by motion-tracking the movements of dancers. The six versions of DOKU that exist to date correspond to the six paths of Buddhist reincarnation: Hell, Heaven, Hungry Ghost, Animal, Asura and Human.

DOKU – Binary conflicts invert illusions is a new video commissioned by Zabludowicz Collection. It features the characters Heaven and Hell engaged in a dance on a yin yang symbol, leading to the formation of a new hybrid DOKU character, the binary god. Presented on a large screen on the altar, DOKU the Self follows a version of LuYang on a passenger aeroplane moving through numerous states of perception. The narrator contemplates the concepts of reincarnation, consciousness, and our understanding of ‘the self’.

Our Back Gallery has been transformed into an interactive games arcade, with the ambitious Material World Knight project at its centre. Characters from LuYang’s earlier works appear, accompanying you on a philosophical quest through techno-psychedelic realms. The Middle Gallery screening room presents a selection of LuYang’s key video works, made in collaboration with J-pop idols, music producers and scientists.

Entertaining, thought-provoking and sometimes grotesque, LuYang’s fantastic spaces don’t shy away from exploring human mortality and the nature of reality itself.

Zabludowicz Collection is a philanthropic organization dedicated to contemporary art, featuring a dynamic collection of over 8,000 artworks by 600+ artists, alongside international exhibitions, events, and artist residencies. Founded in 1994, the Collection champions accessibility, innovation, and education, offering free public programs and supporting emerging artists and curators through initiatives like the Master Class and Testing Ground programs.

Renowned for its experimental and immersive exhibitions, the Collection has introduced many international artists to UK audiences and supported pivotal projects by British artists. It has also pioneered technological art presentations, including virtual and augmented reality exhibitions.

With a strong focus on fostering creative practices, the Collection runs an artist residency program in Sarvisalo, Finland, and loans artworks to institutions worldwide, promoting global engagement with contemporary art.