Autumn at Kunsthal Gent

Dutch artist Femmy Otten slowly transformed a lime wood tree trunk into a female body from November 2021 to September 2022. She specially made the artwork for Kunsthal Gent and named it ‘We Once Were One’.

At the entrance of the former church, Theo De Meyer and Olivier Goethals created a new space centred around a bar named Sheela’s.

This place for meeting and relaxation complements the building’s work and exhibition spaces. De Meyer and Goethals explore the boundaries of architecture, art and design in their work, which results in a natural confluence of two highy personal visual languages.

Many years ago, Pei-Hsuan Wang’s mother moved from Taiwan to the United States. She was later followed by her daughter, who was faced with the insecurities arising from the differences between ‘the East’ and ‘the West’ at a young age.
Wang draws inspiration from her traumas, memories, family history and aspirations for her work. The artist was also inspired by her niece Iris.

In her work, Wang depicts racial and cultural hybrids using archetypes from mythology and nature. The animals represent guardians and portals. In ‘Ghost Eat Mud’, Wang introduces characters spanning three generations through sculptures, installations, illustrations, textile and sounds.

References to her niece, herself and her mother emerge.

‘De Nieuwe Organisatie’, a multipolar project driven by Ben Benaouisse, organises six exhibitions in Kunsthal Gent’s Oud Huis. Jorgé Manilla is the first artist in the line-up. Keep an eye on the website for the full programme.