COSMOS is composed of 2 metal sculptures depicting the cosmology of modern science and of ancient Greek mythology. In scientific cosmology the Big – Bang creates the 2 lightest atoms of Hydrogen and Helium no other elements exist yet. This is compared to Chaos which in Greek mythology gives way to Gaia (earth) and Uranus (sky).
Some names will be found in both sculptures: Mercury for example is a chemical element, but also a planet, and a Greek God.

Zeus (Jupiter) is also a planet. This refers to the very origins of modern sciences which comes from ancient astronomy and alchemy.
More fundamentally Greek mythology tells the story of the war between titans and Olympic Gods. Zeus killed his father Cronos who was eating all his children. In doing so Zeus freed the five other Olympic gods. This was the beginning of a war, and a new cosmic order.

In science this a similar pivotal figure can be found. Its name is Iron (Fe). Inside a 1st generation star nuclear fusion in the star’s core is creating all heavier elements from Lithium (Li) to Iron, including carbon and oxygen. But when Iron is formed the star becomes too heavy, and like Zeus, he kills his father” (The star) which explodes in a supernova.  This explosion frees his brothers and sisters (carbon and oxygen and 22 others) spreading them into space. This explosion is so violent all other elements like silver and gold are also made.

In the aftermath of the supernova explosion most of the star’s enriched guts are dispersed into space, but gravity gathers matter once more creating a 2nd generation much smaller star.
The cosmic debris of heavier elements will form future planets turning around the newborn Sun. Venus, Mercury the Earth and the moon are “born” out of this supernova debris.

Water and carbon molecules come together and over the eons create life and intelligence.The basic structure will be made out of steel, and lights will be depicting crucial moments of the Big-Bang. The first-generation star, the supernova and the second-generation star (the sun). At the end of every line the name of the element can be found, as well as either a sculpture representing the element, or a sample of the element. The sculptures can refer to Alchemy, and the origins and functions Alchemy attributed to them.

Chains will also link different elements to their temporary destination inside a planet. The most abundant elements on earth’s crust are not at all representative of the planet as a whole. This is because the heaviest elements during earth’s formation are attracted to the center by gravity, and the lighter elements are pushed to the surface. Also, meteorite impact adds new elements to the surface (like water).

The earth is actually mostly composed of iron. Also, molten rock forms by a mixture of oxygen and silicon. Sand is such a “silicate”, made of oxygen and silicon. Calcium, surprisingly, is a metal. It binds in our bodies with oxygen and carbon to form bone, or in nature to form rocks, but this limestone rock is also made of “bone” since they were made by billions of shelled creatures’ bodies piling up on the bottom of the ocean hundreds of millions of years ago.



Due to all of this, our earth looks like a stranger to us: It is mostly made of Iron which composes 32% of its mass. Oxygen (in the form of molten rock) accounts for 30%. Silicon 15% Magnesium 14 %. The remaining elements are mostly other metals like nickel aluminum and calcium.

Elements like carbon and hydrogen (present in water) compose less than 0.1 % of the earth’s mass and mostly present on the surface.The second sculpture represents the family tree of Greek Gods. At the top is Chaos, which is the primordial state of the universe which divides itself in Earth (Gaia) and Sky (Uranus). They gave birth to 12 Titans of which Cronos and Rhea are most well-known. They will give birth to the Olympian Gods.

But first the second generation of Titans arises, children of the first generation which all intermarried. We see Leto, the mother of Artemis (Moon) and Apollo (Sun) and also Atlas who carries the heavens and Prometheus who creates humans and gives them fire. The first generation of Olympian gods are Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hestia, Demeter and Hades god of the underworld.

Zeus here is playing the role of Iron (Fe) and bursts open the belly of his father Cronos to free his brothers and sisters. From these initial gods will come 8 new gods, almost all illegitimate children of Zeus: Athena, Hermes, Ares, Hephaistos, Persephone and Dionysus who is born of a human mother Semele. Aphrodite is born out of the genitals of Uranus who were cut off by Cronos.



This structure is equally difficult and confusing but images, diagrams and drawings will accompany the sculpture to create a simple playful and accessible experience. The sculptures can also be seen for what they are: Sculptures. They will still carry power even if not all the details are understood.

Here too small sculptures will depict the different attributes of the gods as well as an inscription of their names. The chains are here showing all the illegitimate children of Zeus, who sleeps with humans, titans and goddesses alike. They are the second generation of gods a bit like the formation of heavy metals created by the supernova explosion.



Our view of the world has changed enormously in the last few centuries, mainly due to the scientific revolution. We have learned a lot, but are still struggling to assimilate this new knowledge and to redefine anew what our place is in the universe. More than luxury, this grand story is essential to all healthy societies and is completely missing in our secular societies today.

Art, and mythology can help us to make these great questions tangible. Where do we come from and how do we relate to the universe around and within us? Who are we really? How do we kill our fathers to create a new cosmic order? We don’t kill gods by running away from them. We must first meet them, and love them.

We only kill the authoritarian “father figure” to make way for a new relationship. Their energy is assimilated and passed on to the next generation.
Let’s engage in this conversation again, as mythology once did and celebrate this great world we are a part of.