Alexandria’s Genesis

Dian Joy is an artist based in London.Founded in 2021, Do Not Research is an independent and reader-supported publication:“Vigil, Hungry”, 2024, Animated video, 00:44 second loopAlexandria’s Genesis, a solo show by British-Nigerian artist Dian Joy, examines how digital folklore shapes self-perception and social ideologies, with a particular focus on the role of the gaze in perpetuating myths about the body. Stemming from a widely circulated fanfiction-cum-copypasta entitled “Purple Eyes and Other Interesting Anomalies”, written in 1998 by Cameron Aubernon, the exhibition delves into the internet myth of Alexandria’s Genesis.This viral lore describes an idealized genetic condition, marked by pale skin, purple eyes, extended lifespan, immunity to disease, and freedom from bodily waste as well as unwanted hair growth. Although rooted in fiction, this myth gained widespread attention online, feeding a niche hysteria amongst those who believed they harbored this rare genetic code, and…