Hauser & Wirth Menorca and Nowness launched a short film festival on 9 July, hosted on Illa del Rei, with screenings taking place every Thursday until 6 August. The video platform and the international art gallery have joined forces to highlight creative storytelling through the work of artists who create with honesty, visual imagination and inspiration.
Nowness is a global video channel and cultural hub for films, documentaries and creativity: a curated platform for innovation and influence across art, fashion, music, food, design and travel. Hauser & Wirth Menorca is a renowned contemporary art centre located on Illa del Rei, with a garden designed by Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf outside its galleries. Education and art conservation are the foundational pillars of their work. Both institutions share a belief in artistic education and cultivation through engagement, so this collaboration feels like a natural extension of their philosophies: meaningful films are shown within a space that works to preserve artistic expression.
Short films previously aired on the video platform will now be screened in direct dialogue with the art centre and its current exhibition, Directionless, highlighting the critical role of art and storytelling in providing guidance in uncertain times. Stability is shaken, identities are questioned and social structures crumble around us, leaving us to wonder where we go from here. Art provides more than an escape: it is the culmination of dreams and futures, a North Star when everything we know is changing. Framing the exhibition alongside the short films shapes a layered, informed perspective that reinforces the overarching theme: art drives humanity.
Each screening will highlight a different theme. Designing at Home is the festival’s first programme and examines the homes and spaces of architects and designers. Artists in Profile explores the processes of artists including Rashid Johnson and Pipilotti Rist. Natural Beauty is a deep dive into gardens and locations filled with beauty. The interplay between style, dance and self-expression is examined in Fashion and Motion. Finally, Photographers in Focus highlights artists who challenge our views of the world, including Aïda Muluneh and Martin Parr. With the sunset as a backdrop, the historic setting provides an elevated experience as guests enjoy the open-air cinema and connect with the artists.