24.06.26, 18:30, mushh, Lissa Staepels

As If More Could Save Us emerges from the inhabitation of Curatorial Studies 2025-2026 in Kunsthal Gent. As one of the main partners of Curatorial Studies, Kunsthal Gent has hosted exhibitions from the postgraduate program since 2023. Building on this ongoing collaboration, this year’s exhibition is shaped by the building’s spaces, its internal dynamics, and both existing and new works. It takes place from 29 May to 28 June, 2026.

At the heart of Kunsthal Gent lies the story of Sarah Winchester, the heiress to a weapon manufacturer’s fortune, who relentlessly expanded her house with its endless rooms under the belief that she was haunted by restless spirits. Her house, with its endless rooms, staircases leading nowhere and looping corridors, translates as a ritual of building in response to uncertainty.

Mirroring this spatial imagery, Kunsthal Gent itself reads like a manuscript constantly written and rewritten; a fragmented landscape in which exhibitions unfold over time. After being built as a carmelite monastery in the 13th century, the building which now houses Kunsthal Gent underwent many transformations from opera storage to archaeological museum, and even to a squatting site.

In the spirit of Sarah Winchester, As If More Could Save Us reintroduces a selection of objects from STAM – Ghent City Museum to Kunsthal Gent, where they were previously exhibited during a time when the site still served as an archaeological museum, alongside objects from Huis van Alijn, which enter this context for the first time. Placing the past alongside the present, this ever-changing environment also gains an additional layer through contemporary works by Danai Anesiadou, Pélagie Gbaguidi, Mélina Ghorafi, Leto Keunen, Susu Laroche, Pàpoo Thibau and Julie Vanlook.

By bringing together historical objects, contemporary artworks and the spatial complexity itself, As If More Could Save Us explores how meaning is never fixed but continuously renegotiated. The exhibition builds on this evolving structure. Each space is shaped by what came before; a layering of gestures and intentions across centuries. Things accumulate here, like they always have.

Curators
Eline Adriaensen, Samira Ali Reiza Beigi, Houda Ben Azzouz, Anna Bruni, Cristina Carnelos, Alex Celis, Emma Crombé, Anaïs Du Champs, Tess Ego, Youssef Elkhiar, Zinnia Fay Fay, Nora Franco, Charlotte Frenay, Val Holfeld, Théo Jack Scherer, Bruna Martins, Antoine Meffre Chol, Sutanee Panyajai, and Alice Zitelli.

Supported by
curatorial studies and Kunsthal Gent

Many thanks to
Sonia D’Alto, Laura Herman, Isabel Van Bos and Curatorial Studies KASK Team; Valentijn Goethals, Danielle van Zuijlen, Jana Vasiljević, Tomas Lootens, Aike Roodenburg, Bert Bossaert, Klaartje Van Thuyne, Jens Wijnendaele, Tim Bryon, Mark Kokotov and Kunsthal Gent Team; STAM Ghent and Huis van Alijn.

Our classical music students hone their skills until they are ready for their exam recitals. You can attend this joyous occassion, as the exam concerts of master’s students of classical music and composition are open to the public. Postgraduates musical performance practice will also spoil your ears. All concerts take place in our very own MIRY Concert Hall.

Mastersounds is known among connoisseurs as the holy grail of up-and-coming musical talent. During this festival, part of Graduation 2026 at KASK & Conservatorium, graduating students in jazz, pop and music production present their own projects. Between 15 and 25 June 2026, they will shake the foundations of the Minard theatre and De Centrale. They were preceded by Ramkot, Balthazar, Tomàn, Senne Guns, Douglas Firs, Nordmann, Amatorski, Faces on TV, Shht... In addition, every year we celebrate the birth of the new Masterworks LP, a compilation album that brings together all that talent. Get your copy at the festival.

During the Drama Festival, drama master’s students present their graduation work. Offbeat and classical drama, crossovers, performances and multidisciplinary work can be seen at various locations in Ghent. The Drama Festival runs from 15 to 20 June 2026.

Our audiovisual arts master students will project their final works into the world during the avant-premières at Sphinx Cinema on 23 June. Tickets will be available soon.

Later, from 25 to 28 June, we will repeat the films at KASKcinema. Admission is free, no need to make a reservation.

Spread out over the Bijloke campus, you can discover the work of students in photography, graphic design, autonomous design, fine arts, textile design, fashion, musical instrument making, interior design, landscape and garden architecture, landscape development, digital design and development, curatorial studies, educational master in audiovisual and visual arts and the educational master in music and performing arts.

Fashion students from KASK & Conservatorium present their graduation projects during 2 shows on Campus Bijloke, for the first time in the Gent Jazz tent.

Lucas Rigauts presents an instrumental guitar project centred around groove. With influences from Cory Wong, John Frusciante and Scott Henderson, the sound is a blend of tight funk and expressive improvisation. A live set where pocket, feel and dynamics come together, driven by the guitar and supported by a fantastic band.

Band 

• Lucas Rigauts, guitar 
• Staf Decoene, keys
• Kasper Snellebrand, bass
• Joppe Vermote, drums

Nikos Tsouvalas and his project invite listeners on a musical journey to the eastern parts of the world. Although he grew up in Belgium, he has always maintained a strong connection with his Greek roots and traditions. By combining the musical knowledge and influences he has gathered over the years from both cultures, Nikos Tsouvalas performs his own original compositions together with a large Eastern/Balkan orchestra. His music blends these traditions into a unique sound that tries to bridge cultures. His goal is to create music that connects with people from all over the world music that moves listeners emotionally, makes them dance, and allows them to forget their worries for a moment. After all, that is the true purpose of music.

Band

• Nikolaos Tsouvalas, saxophone, gaïda
• Alexandros Pavlou, clarinet, kaval
  
• Thomas Demaertelaere, trumpet
• Niels Schouppe, drums
  
• Maxime Aerts, guitar
• Mathieu Janssens, bass
• Ilyas Bylemans, synthesiser
• Alexis Boone, piano
• Oya Bakiroglu, percussion
• Cihan Sezer, mentor

With his new quartet, saxophonist Ferre brings a set of his own compositions. During his studies, including a formative year in Austria, he began composing his own music, translating his personal sound on the saxophone into original work. His music combines strong melodic ideas with a rhythmic feel, while remaining open to new influences and directions in different styles. Ensemble playing is central to his approach which is why he surrounds himself with three talented musicians: Alexis Boone (piano), Alexander De Baedts (bass), and Toon Putteman (drums). Together, they interact, create a dynamic sound, and are willing to try new things.

Band

• Alexis Boone, piano
• Alexander De Baedts, bass
• Toon Putteman, drums
• Ferre Vankeirsbilck, saxofoon (alto, soprano)

With a blend of melancholy and bravado, LIGHTSPEED serve up a sweaty barrage of boisterous indie rock. The fact that the quartet is also driven by a host of extravagant guitars, existential preaching and the commandments of a motley crew of overseas sinners means it hits you with little mercy. In short: indie with its laces undone and a somewhat stubborn aversion to speed limits – so nothing can go wrong. Since its formation in 2023, LIGHTSPEED has been building a solid live reputation with victories in competitions such as Sound Track (East Flanders winner), the Wase LAWIJTSTRIJD and as support for acts including SONS, DIRK, Ramkot and Basht. (IRL) and The Belair Lip Bombs (AUS). Furthermore, the band was named one of the nine finalists in Studio Brussel’s De Nieuwe Lichting 2026. For fans of: Sam Fender, Wunderhorse, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Inhaler ...

Band

• Rik Bontinck, vocals and guitar
• Jens Verbraeken, guitar
• Fieke Soete, bass
• Henri Vervaeke, drums

CESAR SUN are three musical hooligans overflowing with energy. They play what they themselves call “Psychedelic Stoner Punk.” Their mission? To grab every audience in a musical chokehold and never let go. It didn’t take long before they gained a reputation as a live explosion. Their shows are pure chaos in the best possible way: bone-breaking riffs and crowds screaming every chorus right back at them. A simple but irresistibly delicious recipe for noise and raw energy. After shaking up every corner of Belgium, the trio is ready to kick their debut album “The Palace” out into the world. CESAR SUN is proof that a teenage project can grow into a refined phenomenon without ever losing its raw heart.

Band

• Tijl Coorevits, guitar & vocals
• Taron Zohrabyan, bass & vocals
• Jannes Degrande, drums

 After five years, Tim Vinck is finally graduating. He presents to you: “ithica_” Instrumental, cinematic post-rock, straight from the heart. Expect a blend of gut-wrenching melodies, experimental electronics, and crushing walls of sound. Let the music speak for itself and join us to experience the raw catharsis of post-rock together. In loving memory of Sid <3 

Band

• Tim Vinck, guitar
• Stanzi Cresens, cello
• Robin Vantomme, keys
• Tuur Geldhof, bass
• Tibo Polleunis, drums

PJ has been suffering from his ‘too much’ gene for years, and that certainly won’t be missing from his Mastersounds. Together with his fantastic band and the singers from IMPACT, he’ll be delivering an evening full of soul, funk, spectacle, but above all, fun. Need a musical pat on the back – or rather, a kick up the backside? Want to bring out your stink face again? We’ve got you, honey!

Band

• Louke Vandorpe, backing vocals
• Leonie Geens, backing vocals
• Indira Bergmans, backing vocals
• Achilles De Raedt, guitarist
• Niels Schouppe, drummer
• Jesse Vandecaetsbeek, keys
• Moreno Claes, bassist

The Messenger Life is a journey. An endless circle that takes us spiralling up and down. Depending on the lessons we need to learn, we encounter obstacles and situations that help us grow. We can avoid, process or transform the emotions that life brings. Many of us have lost our voices and become invisible due to the circumstances of life. I was given the gift of music to process these collective emotions, to transform them and to share those feelings with you. Today, I have the honour of presenting my own work, as the starting point of my career.

Band

• Nona Gloria Meya, backing vocals
• Raffaello Visconti, guitar
• Jan Nihoul, vibraphone
• Weiish AkaMrbase, bass
• Lou De Smet, drums
• Djuwita Permatisari, backing vocals
• Larissa Sorée, backing vocals

molrat combines spacey synths with sharp drum breaks, groovy basslines, enchanting percussion and a vibe-filled vibraphone. As they jam, concepts are developed into club-ready tracks. These concepts stem from breaks, basslines, synth melodies, sequencers and just about anything else. The inspiration for this project is drawn primarily from UK club music (UK Garage, IDM, Jungle…), jazz and hip-hop. Think of artists such as Squarepusher, Lone, Amon Tobin, Joy Orbison, The Roots… molrat is making a name for itself not only on the live scene but also on the club scene, aiming to get concert-goers and party-goers dancing everywhere. The band feels most connected to the audience by playing, much like a Boiler Room, in a central setup in the venue with the audience surrounding them. Expect thundering bass, flashing strobe lights, energetic breaks and otherworldly sounds. Don’t forget to put on your dancing shoes!

Band

• Sten Wouters, synths
• Elias Nieuwejaers, live electronics, EWI
• Kasper Snellebrand, bass
• Rik Baeyens, drums, percussion, vibraphone and FX
• Arne Theunissen, drums

“Helga Ameye” is an extension of the personality of composer and front singer Helga Ameye. “Don’t be afraid to touch and be touched” is the intention she conveys musically with her band: Wodan Onkelinx (keys), Stanzi Cresens (cello, vocals), Tuur Geldhof (bass), and Thibault Goudket (drums, vocals). She seeks out colors that can clash and are created primarily by thin layers of paint applied one over the other. This layering manifests itself in an electronic indie pop sound with palpable emotional depth. The music sounds intimate and exhilarating, a constant tension between wanting to hide and yet wanting to be seen, a bumpy road to self-acceptance, and a drive to preserve her sense of wonder. She draws inspiration from artists such as Radiohead, Tsar B, Tamino, James Blake, and Pitou.

Band

• Wodan Onkelinx, keys
• Stanzi Cresens, cello en vocals
• Tuur Geldhof, bass
• Thibault Goudket, drums en vocals
• Helga Ameye, vocals en compositions

small chaos. Big feelings. A hand full of coping mechanisms. Jessica King and her band merge pop-punk and hyperpop into a new sound that’s bold, dynamic and impossible to ignore. Roaring guitars, dramatic contrasts and a voice that moves from a whisper to total emotional collapse. Think Paramore and Avril Lavigne with a touch of Björk energy, bathing in a tub of hot pink glitters and unapologetic female rage. Here, vulnerability is power and chaos is the point.

Band

• Jessica King, vocals
• Tim Vinck, guitar
• Kamiel Bossuyt, guitar
• Stanny Rijkaert, drums
• Diete Verschaeve, bass

First there was nothing. Then there was too much, way too much. That’s the closest description of what to expect from Etnej. This project captures a moment inside the mind of its creator, where emotions don’t follow a straight line. They collide, shift and spiral without warning. Fragile, tear-jerking pop ballads can suddenly drop into an electronic breakdown, only to surge back into powerful shoegaze and rock songs, pulling the melancholy and anger right back to the surface. Delirium with a constant stream of mystery and melancholy. And all of this supported by an incredible band!

Band

• Babette Rogiers, keys
• Kasper Snellebrand, bass
• Leonard Langbeen, guitar
• Tim Vinck, guitar
• Stanny Rijckaert, drum en percussion
• Sam Vanden Bogaert, sound designer
• Jente Van Havermaet, vocals

A spicy, richly colored sound unfolds through constant exchange and intuition. This is Sauce Control, an ambitious project with original compositions by drummer Paul De Smet. Together with Bruno De Smet and Inigo Grau Y Garcia, the trio pushes toward clear themes and vivid sonic narratives. The music moves between reflection, excitement, and release, with a directness that feels lived rather than designed. Care to have a taste of the result?

For this special concert, the trio will be joined by Chroma Kwartet, a string quartet from Ghent.

Band

• Bruno De Smet, piano/keyboard
• Inigo Grau Y Garcia, bass
• Paul De Smet, drums
• Chroma Kwartet, strings

Armed with a hunger for broken craft projects, Eldarova creates a deafening racket found only in the mind of a child raised on Disney and climate change. With animal wonder and ‘not-like-the-other-boys’ syndrome, you get a dish of diary tantrums, bruises and crackling sweets. Roel smashes, Rocco and Aloïs colour in, Yana scratches open and Kim tells the tale.

Band

• Kim Eldarova, vocals 
• Roel Delplancke, drums 
• Rocco Segers, electronics 
• Aloïs Maddens, synths
• Yana Woedstadt, cello

Lukja is the brainchild and musical project of producer Lukja Vanaverbeke. His music draws you into a world of guitar, fragile vocals, and sounds that defy categorization. Step in and let yourself drift along a current where Lukja, together with four exceptional musicians, transforms sound into texture, laying themselves completely bare to the world.

Band

• Lukja Vanaverbeke, vocals and guitar
• Lander Lampaert, guitar
• Loïc Van Weyenberg, bass
• Jill Willems, drums
• Lissa Staepels, keyboards and backing vocals

Dutch-language music. Band tracks and solo tracks on piano and guitar.

Band

• Mika Ram, vocals, guitar, piano
• Tuur Geldhof, bass
• Jill Willems, drums
• Robbe Embrechts, guitar, piano
• Lukja Vanaverbeke, guitar, vocals

Suus' Gezelschap, an ensemble centred around drummer Suus De Maeyer, takes to the stage with a warm, infectious energy that instantly captivates any audience. With a shared passion for rhythm and ensemble playing, they seek out groove in all its forms: deeply rooted, playful and ever-evolving. Their music navigates between surprising melodies and rich textures, fuelled by influences from Brazilian and West African folklore. Don’t expect rigid boundaries, but a vibrant soundscape where tradition and innovation meet. Suus’s Company invites you to listen, feel and move along with them. A musical journey that is both intimate and exuberant.

Band

• Nel Hadermann, vocals
• Gijs De Maeyer, saxophone
• Monne Verschaeve, trumpet
• Alexander De Baedts, guitar
• Sander Huys, bass
• Bart Van Aken, percussion
• Suus De Maeyer, drums

In a world where plugging a Les Paul into a Marshall is certainly no bad combination, Daan takes a different approach. Inspired by guitarists such as Soklo, Nuffer and Ella Feingold, he settles himself amongst a tangle of cables, searching for sounds that, 25 years ago, would have been career-threatening. Expect a mix of ‘non-linear reverb’ guitar riffs and delicate Americana. Sometimes angular, sometimes dreamy, sometimes surprisingly simple. In short: The soundtrack of a student in a big city who romanticises a career as a musician in Nashville in the year 2026. He presents this master's project together with his band (and close friends) Esmee Cuvelier, Robin Vantomme, Kamiel Bossuyt, Stanny Rijckaert and Louisa Hautekiet. In the style of: Soklo, Mason Stoops, Blake Mills. Mentor: Geoffrey Burton

Band

• Esmee Cuvelier, bass guitar
• Robin Vantomme, keys 
• Kamiel Bossuyt, guitar
• Stanny Rijckaert, drums 
• Louisa Hautekiet, vocals

Een collectie toesten

Band

• Babette Rogiers, keyz
• Leonard Langbeen, guitar
• Simon Moortgat, violin

Voor zijn drum masterproef componeert Siebert muziek die hij live uitvoert bij een verkorte versie van Perfect Days van Wim Wenders. In een steeds drukker wordende wereld zoekt hij naar rust en vertraging. Natuur en alledaagse momenten vormen daarbij het uitgangspunt, gevormd door de muziek die de nadruk legt op subtiliteit en ruimte. Zo richt hij de aandacht op verstilling, gevoel van klein geluk en het bewust beleven van het alledaagse. 

Band

• Dennis Bleus, gitaar
• Anthony Windels, basgitaar
• Sam Vanden Bogaert, keys
• Siebert De Ruyver, drums