Sharon van Overmeijeren

As summer heat grips the European continent, Asiat Park in Vilvoorde (BE) remains remarkably cool due to the Ancestral Air Conditioning System installed by artist Sharon Van Overmeiren. The towering installation built from mauled terra cotta bricks and monumental ceramics cools the environment using water that runs through the structure. Is it a cave? Is it a temple? It is certainly a reminder that crowded Belgium could benefit from a little more climate consciousness. Van Overmeiren developed the work in collaboration with Instituut voor Volkswarmte (Institute for Public Warmth) for the Horst Arts & Music Festival. She made the ceramic stupas and portals at EKWC, along with a series of sculptures and wall pieces for Art Brussels. The Air Conditioning System will stay in Asiat Park, to be overgrown by plants and blend in with its surroundings.