Melding historical and literary references with poignant personal experiences, Cole Lu’s work tells stories of dissonance and longing through spiraling odysseys anchored by obscure characters of ancient mythology, a motley assemblage of demigods, daemons, and spirits. First Pylon is a compendium of Lu's vellum drawings which are the precursors to his pieces made of burnt wood panels and linen, accompanied by a corresponding collection of his poetry and writing. With his burned work, Lu returns to the origin of storytelling by writing with fire. In First Pylon, Lu traces what came before the fire and envisions a new mythos born from beyond the flame.

(The Ninth Sun)

Of the journey itself,
he has no recollection

except for a sound of thunder
made from the burning of Time,

all the hours piled up
into a bonfire,

flickering,

the years
blazing
behind him.