Niko Abramidis &NE

Mollusca (2021) is a 7-piece edition of wall sculptures by artist Niko Abramidis &NE in the form of an octopus made of marble, which has three pyramids cut into its upper half. The octopus symbolizes the mysterious, flexibility, intelligence, adaptability and unpredictability. It is a lunar creature influenced by the tides and the waxing and waning of the moon. The three eyes reinforce the impression of the mystical – Mollusca looks like a stylized image of an unknown ancient creature that lives without a skeleton on the ever-changing ocean floor, outlasting the tides. The triangular eyes suggest pyramids and at the same time arrows pointing upwards. They are reminiscent of symbols often found in logos of today's startups, which Niko Abramidis &NE adopts to critically point to the use of ancient signs. On the one hand, the eyes refer to hybrid creatures that recur and play an important role in the artist's visual worlds. On the other hand, the elements refer to the "Eye of Providence," a motif that has been used since ancient Egypt and can still be found in the symbolism of the Freemasons and on the one-dollar bill. Modern companies often use modified forms of ancient symbols such as pyramids and animal representations as attributes of power to emphasize their value.