Combining literary and historical reference with autobiographical experiences, Cole Lu's practice builds new mythologies that carry echoes of trauma, transformation and regeneration. Lu questions the theistic concept of creatio ex nihilo (creation out of nothingness), proposing a more complicated interspersal of time and human existence. Presented as a compilation of gestures or a collection of brief anecdotes, Lu's work unfolds serially, following invented characters through a parallel world of his creation. Each exhibition or body of work reveals another element, broadening his narrative to incorporate new sites and characters. He (re)invents, (re)names, and (re)writes his subjects, composing each work with an elaborate fragmented title – a literary device that further subverts conventional linear narratives and amplifies his poetic vision.

Cole Lu 呂咅彧

The clock in the brick house kept ticking the time away, chipping off bits by bits. Tonight, but every night, time stands still. Raindrops hang static above the roof. The bell of the clock tower floats mid-swing. Orthos raises his muzzles in silent howls. The aromas of tangerines, mangoes, saffron, and cardamom suspend in space. (Map)