Since April 2019, our entire facade and parking lot have been renovated in three phases by local street artist Cee Pil. The result is a beautiful mural in Cee Pil's distinctive style – a real eye-catcher and a real asset to the entire neighborhood!
The artist Cee Pil
Cee Pil: "I'm a painter who focuses primarily on painting in public spaces. I started painting horses with oil paint on canvas in my studio as a child. Later, I expanded my work to outdoor walls, and then to public spaces. The interaction with the outside world—the city, the people—feeds my work and presents me with new challenges."
At some point, I began to look beyond the mere literal depiction of a subject and created my own optical illusion technique, layering different images and blending them with my own geometric collage method. In this way, I tell stories of contrast and double meanings, condensed into a single image that is simultaneously simple and complex. I usually use animals as subjects, as metaphors for human characteristics, and to tell my story of unity in diversity.
The creation of the contemporary mural in Destelbergen can be seen here on the Aleashop.be Facebook page .
Festive performance
We were pleased to welcome not only the press, but also Mayor Elsie Sierens and the aldermen for local economy and sports of Destelbergen. Our neighbors and a few other guests also stopped by for drinks and snacks.
Our house photographer Ivan Deleus took some fitting pictures of our reception. You can admire them all here. here on Facebook .
Aleashop was also featured in the news on the regional television channel AVS!
The history of Aleashop in a nutshell
Aleashop originated from the family business of Bea and Denis Teirlijnck (started in 1992 as Ruitershop Alea in Hansbeke, later also PK Ruitershop in Gentbrugge). In 2008, Olivier Teirlijnck and Kim Moeyersoms took over PK Ruitershop and changed the name to Aleashop.be.
Olivier: "In 1992, my parents started a riding shop in Hansbeke, and six years later, my brother Thierry took over the PK Ruitershop in Gentbrugge. After founding Westernbarn in 2005, I, Kim, and my brother Nicolas started one of the very first Flemish online stores in 2006! Two years later, Kim and I took over the shop in Gentbrugge and changed the name to Aleashop . By being active online as pioneers at that time, with an informative website, an online shop, and later social media, our reputation grew.
We've also been present at Flanders Horse Expo in Ghent, consistently since its inception. Not only did we have a beautiful booth, but during this renowned equestrian event, our team also provided year after year demonstrations on saddle fitting, Natural Horsemanship, TREC, hoof boots, bitless riding, pack saddle trekking, and more.
In January 2014, we moved our shop to our familiar building on Dendermondesteenweg in Destelbergen. Since then, Aleashop has become a welcoming 400-square-meter riding shop with horse equipment and professional advice on saddle fitting and Parelli Natural Horsemanship.
We also support and promote riding schools to allow young people to experience more outdoor sports – equestrian sports – and we helped to realise the local bridle path, the Damslootroute, in Destelbergen.”
So be sure to stop by to admire the Cee Pil street art and visit the shop. The Alea team is happy to help. See you soon!
