On the occasion of the 61st International Art Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia, the Fondation Louis Vuitton presents DOKU The Illusion, a solo exhibition by Chinese-born artist Lu Yang at the Espace Louis Vuitton Venezia, curated by Claire Staebler.
The project is part of the Fondation’s Hors-les-murs programme, which brings international exhibitions to the Espaces Louis Vuitton in Tokyo, Munich, Venice, Beijing, Seoul and Osaka. The presentation also marks the 20th anniversary of the Espaces Louis Vuitton and the 10th anniversary of the Hors-les-murs initiative.
Known for immersive digital environments, Lu Yang explores themes of identity, the body, digital reincarnation and the nature of reality through video works, multimedia installations, sculptures and virtual performances. Drawing from manga, video games and anime, the artist combines contemporary visual culture with Buddhist philosophy and reflections on humanity in the digital age.
At the centre of the exhibition is DOKU The Illusion, the fourth chapter of the artist’s ongoing DOKU series launched in 2019. The project follows a virtual avatar created from the digitalisation of Lu Yang’s own face, through which the artist transcends the limits of the physical body and imagines new forms of freedom and existence.
For the Espace Louis Vuitton Venezia, Lu Yang has transformed the venue into a cybernetic sanctuary suspended between a chapel and a futuristic refuge. The film is presented on a monumental LED screen positioned like an altar, while two Buddha sculptures holding the wheel of life welcome visitors into the immersive environment. A mirrored ceiling and Venetian-inspired flooring integrate the audience into the installation itself, blurring the boundaries between contemplation and dissolution.
Set against the deep-blue skies and expansive landscapes of Japan’s Izu Peninsula, DOKU The Illusion unfolds as a visionary road movie in which DOKU travels through surreal environments aboard a red vehicle symbolising freedom. The soundtrack — blending hip-hop, piano and traditional music — echoes the atmosphere of this year’s Biennale theme, IN MINOR KEYS, through intimate narratives and immersive sonic textures.
The exhibition is open free of charge at Espace Louis Vuitton Venezia, Calle del Ridotto 1351, Venice, daily from 10:30 am to 7:00 pm, including public holidays.
