Halo

Installed within the restored interior of Saint-Odulfus Church in Borgloon, Halo by Gijs Van Vaerenbergh takes the form of a monumental circular ring suspended beneath the church’s central roof structure.

Measuring 15 metres in diameter, the aluminium intervention hovers above the crossing – the point where the nave, transept and choir intersect, and traditionally the symbolic centre of communal worship. Finished in a warm golden tone, the ring frames this space while establishing a visual connection between the church’s different architectural elements.

Rather than presenting itself as a complete object, Halo is partially concealed by the building’s columns, arches and vaulted structure. As the ring passes behind these existing elements, visitors encounter it only in fragments. The circle is completed mentally, emerging through movement and perception rather than direct visibility.

The project draws on the religious iconography found throughout the church, referencing the halo as a recurring symbol in Christian imagery. At the same time, its abstract geometry invokes broader associations of unity, continuity and eternity. Positioned between artwork and architecture, Halo subtly redefines the spatial experience of the church, strengthening the relationship between its interconnected volumes while introducing a contemporary layer to the historic interior.

The church is open to individual visitors every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.