Kunsthal Gent introduces its new bar, Sheela's.
Ghent artists Theo De Meyer and Olivier Goethals together created an entirely new space at the entrance to Kunsthal Gent's main hall church. With the bar as a central element, this becomes a place for meeting and relaxation, complementing the building's work and exhibition spaces. In their practice, De Meyer and Goethals explore the boundaries of architecture, art and design. The result is a natural confluence of two highly personal visual languages.
The new bar takes its name from the Summerschool organised by Jesse Jones and Sara O'Rourke at Kunsthal Gent in the summer of 2022. The figure 'Sheela na Gig' is a medieval guardian spirit, a 'witch in the wall' still found on churches and other buildings across Europe.
Sheela's is open on weekends from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and during all public moments at Kunsthal Gent.
Theo De Meyer lives and works in Ghent. De Meyer moves between architecture, design and the arts, often reconciling the various disciplines in his projects. He plays with context and scale, interprets and transforms, creating new worlds from the act of building. In addition to his work as an architect, De Meyer is also teaching. Collaboration plays an important role in his cross-disciplinary practice. He and doorzon interieur architecten together represent the core of the modular collective Stand Van Zaken (‘State of Affairs’), who create furniture and architecture in collaboration with specialists in various fields. Driven by the shared enthusiasm of its members, Stand van Zaken supports the creation and development of objects, buildings and ideas.
Olivier Goethals lives and works in Ghent. He studied Architecture and Urban Development. He is working simultaneously as architect and artist. In his wide practice he researches the connection between physical space and consciousness. Olivier made spatial interventions and artistic installations for venues such as: Palais De Tokyo Paris, Z33 Hasselt, CIAP Hasselt, Extra City Antwerp, Gallery Marion De Cannière Antwerp, Be-Part Waregem, NUCLEO Ghent, LUCA Ghent, 019 Ghent, ... Previously he worked as a freelance senior architect for De Vylder Vinck Taillieu for eight years. Since 2010, he is teaching at the KU Leuven Architecture Department. He was a guest teacher at RU Ghent faculty of Architecture, LUCA School of Arts Experimental Studio and ETH Zurich faculty of Architecture, among other institutes.