So, you want to look at art? With the huge number of Art Galleries, and art galleries within Museums, in all four of the Balearic Islands – Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, you are spoilt for choice. Because of that you may need to determine why you are looking or what you are looking for – do you want to buy, to browse, to get ideas, to learn about the history and culture of the Balearic Islands?
Depending on what type of art you are interested in, there are galleries which will appeal to you more than others – whether they be modern, contemporary, historic, or cultural.
Many times the words modern and contemporary are used interchangeably, but in fact modern art refers to the period that began in the 1880s and lasted until the 1960´s, while contemporary is said to refer to art from the 1960´s on, and to artists who are still living.
All the islands have contemporary modern art galleries where you can buy anything that catches your eye or simply admire what is on display. They also have “Museum of ………..” – here you will find a different type of art on display – more likely to be modern, historical, and/or cultural.
For modern or contemporary art, think of Es Baluard Museum of Contemporary Art and the Joan Miro Foundation, both in Palma. There are often private exhibitions held in such places as Pueblo Espanyol, or a local hotel such as the Hotel Bendinat.
Very often you can combine looking at art with other activities, such as a day visit to another town – for instance Can Prunera in Soller, the Museum Sa Bassa Blanca in Alcudia, Son Marroig in Deia, the Museum of Frederic Chopin and George Sand in the Cartuja, Valledmossa, La Granja in Esporlas.
But probably the easiest and most fun way of enjoying art is in the “Nit de l´Art”. Many villages have them, but almost certainly the biggest is in Palma – 19th September, the beginning of the artistic season. The atmosphere is electric and buzzing, all the streets in the centre of town are closed to traffic, so that people can wander round the art galleries, museums and art studies, glass of wine in hand (complementary or otherwise!) often finding a surprise round every corner. New, young, avant-garde artists showing not only paintings but sculptures, photography, performance, video, and kinetic art, often in vibrant splashes of colour. More serious art lovers and collectors tend to go during the day, and then again in the evening just for the buzz!
Open until midnight, it is a night not to be missed!
