Sun, Moon and Stars
COR Journal Volume 01.
Sun, moon, and stars—
the oldest verses of poetry,
a silent dialogue between earth and sky.
Drawing from the cosmos,
humanity records eternal wisdom, philosophy, and poetry.
In this profound romance,
we gaze into the universe with wonder.
COR Sound (叙声 Xù Shēng)
From dawn to moonlight,
from stars to the night breeze—
we search, in every note,
for the resonance between the cosmos and the soul.
COR Glyph (叙字 Xù Zì)
Pictographs were humanity’s earliest attempt to record the world through lines and shapes—
the starting point of our dialogue with nature. In Oracle Bone Script, the characters “日” (sun), “月” (moon), and “星” (star) whisper like the murmurs of thecosmos, echoing the ancient gaze and contemplation of our ancestors.
In Oracle Bone Script, the character “日” (ri) features a central dot, symbolizing the radiance of sunlight. The character “月” (due) mimics the shape of acrescent moon. The character “星” (xing) originates from “曐” (jīng), where “晶”(jīng) consists of three “日” characters, initially describing a cluster of starsand later referring to a single star.
The sun, an ancient circle,
carrying a gentle glimmer of light.
That single dot—
like the first cry of earth,
whispering the miracle of light and life through the ages.
The moon, a delicate silver hook,
hanging upon the soft ripples of night.
Waxing and waning,
it quietly holds the rhythm of time.
The stars, two faint echoes of the sun,
woven into the tapestry of the night，
shimmers in countless scattered sparks,
telling the song of ancient constellations.
In the vast and silent sky,
they etch an unspoken epic.
COR Dialogue (叙谈 Xù Tán)
In the invisible web of light, we meet contemporary sculptor Peter D. Cole across continents.
Every gram of brass, every curve and twist, is like a frozen play of light and shadow. The sun, the moon, and the stars seem to hum eternally at his fingertips, drawing out a poetic resonance where time and the universe intertwine.
Peter D. Cole "Metaphysics of a Winter Landscape"
You mentioned "A universe playing with the balance of structures and nature" about your work "Metaphysics of a Winter Landscape", in your opinion,
how does the universe "play" between such balance?
The universe plays with its structures and nature through its seemingly changing relationship between the elements that constitute its existence
eg day, night, autumn, winter, spring, summer, phases of the planets, phases of the moon etc.
The balance occurs through the knowledge that these phases, times , moments will reoccur ever so minutely changed but appear in balance.
These are the things that interest me e.g. winter- fire, Summer - harvest, earth - sky, black hill - green hill, all things that I have made sculptures about.
Peter D. ColeRock and Moon
The sun, moon, and sky seem to be recurring themes in your early works. Did you have any personal experiences or feelings about the cosmos when creating these pieces?
I have spent most of my life living in the country both as a child and an adult. The landscapes where I have lived have mainly been large, flat and open presenting the sky in its infinity and complexity both day and night.Because a lot of my earlier work was about the landscape the sky always had to be presented as a balance to the earth.
I have witnessed various configurations of planets and stars, eclipses and comets both day and night.
Peter D. Cole "Remains of a Rock Wall(1991)"
What inspires you to create art in a symbolic way? Why did you choose sculpture as your medium? Do you feel that the universe holds a unique calling for you?
There is always a desire to tell a story or make a narrative out of what I am making.
The use of symbols are a method of making this happen the same way as letters make a word or words make a sentence.
I chose sculpture (although I draw and paint) because I like the process of making.
I don’t feel any uniqueness within the universe other than being another observer of it at another time and another place.
Peter D. Cole "Here Comes the Sun"
As an artist, how do you think art can help us explore or perceive the mysteries of the universe?
Artists as well as human beings have always made marks, objects, performed rituals and spoke about their relationship to the universe and its mysteries.
As long as the universe continues to exist these actions will continue.
Artists have a certain privilege and struggle in being able to spend their life in pursuit of it’s mysteries and perhaps maintain its mystery.
Peter D. Cole "Earth and Sky"
What comes to your mind when you look up at the sky?
It’s vastness.
It’s mystery.
The improbableness of being able to view it in the first place.
COR Matter (叙质 Xù Zhì)
In ancient times, people observed the stars to understand the world, with the sun, moon, and constellations guiding the rhythms of life.
Their reverence forthe night sky and their imagination of the cosmos found expression in handcrafted objects.
The eight-pointed star-patterned pottery dou from the Dawenkou culture is a ceramic vessel adorned with an eight-pointed star motif. A dou is a highstemmed vessel, primarily used in rituals, banquets, and ceremonies. The eight-pointed star motif symbolizes celestial phenomena, the stars, and the cosmic order.
Within the interplay of simple lines, raw materials, and humble craftsmanship, the cosmos quietly unfold.
COR Verse (叙句 Xù Jù)
"The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of star-stuff."
-Carl Sagan, Cosmos
Sun, moon, you, me, all things—
are the dust of the cosmos.
COR Journal by COR ORBIT Group