Kostas Lambridis aerial shell - Bar

Glistening polished aluminium and steel components weave a captivating tale. Conjuring visions of automotive wonders as well as medieval and steampunk aesthetics, “aerial shell” exudes an air of antiquity akin to chariots and ancient contraptions. It is a visual voyage that pays homage to the spirit of invention of previous eras while at the same time offering something totally futuristic.

“aerial shell”’s journey began as an exploration of metal, mainly concerning intricate car parts. Lambridis took apart a friend’s VW Beetle for repair (returning it eventually in better condition) but was left with an assortment of old and malfunctioning parts from which this sculptural mechanism was born. The artist then visited scrap yards and found many parts from old Citroën 2CVs, a ubiquitous car across Greece that holds tremendous nostalgic power.

When the parts were combined, an organic spiral pattern unexpectedly began to materialise. However, the spiral motif transcends, as it is a functional artwork that opens from both front and back, unveiling a bar space for serving - a testament to form meeting function in a seamless union. Replete with alchemical symbolism, hard steel casing gives way internally to softer copper, a metaphor for the transition of states.