Art

At M HKA and De Cinema, we approach film as an autonomous art form and aim to break down the divide between narrative and experimental cinema as much as possible. We consider film a living artistic practice within contemporary visual culture and, within the ART section, explore film that moves between cinema and the visual arts.

We present a carefully curated selection of recent, restored, and underexposed works — both national and international — including artists’ films, essay films, experimental cinema, and video works, alongside feature films and documentaries about artistic creation: from painting and architecture to dance, performance, and music.

To strengthen the dialogue between cinema and the visual arts, this programme often connects with current exhibitions and activities at M HKA.

HIGHLIGHTS

IBIZA BODIES: SUMMER FILMS OF NICOLA L. brings together three films made by visual artist Nicola L. during and around her time in Ibiza in the 1960s and 1970s — a period shaped by experimentation, artistic exchange, and collective living. Immersed in the island’s community of artists and local inhabitants, Nicola L. approached Ibiza as a living landscape defined by movement, mythology, and shared experience. In films such as HERE SHE IS and LES TÊTES D’IBIZA, fiction, performance, and documentary observation merge fluidly, transforming the island into a site of freedom, imagination, and communal expression.

Bold, raw, and unapologetically dykey: DYKE TV thoroughly shook up American cable television in the 1990s. Founded in New York in 1993 by activists, artists, and filmmakers Ana María Simo, Linda Chapman, and Mary Patierno, the program offered a unique platform for lesbian voices and activism. With a mix of cultural criticism and community building, DYKE TV aimed to empower lesbians and increase the visibility of lesbian culture and communities. Prior to the screening, we invite you to join us for dinner at Boskeuken: from 19h onwards you can enjoy a lovely vegetarian meal.

On the occasion of Museum Night, De Cinema has curated a unique short-film programme, I WANT TO BE AN INSECT, inspired by the playful, anarchic world(s) of Monster Chetwynd. Don’t expect a traditional movie night, but a stimulating mix of short films that straddle the line between art and experimentation. These works provoke, entertain, and surprise… Immerse yourself in mysterious stories featuring strange characters. These open air screenings at Middelheimmuseum are free of charge.