Fragile Strength: Oxymoron or a Reality?
- Artlune
- Aug 11
- 3 min read
In a world where men are expected to be strong, to protect, to provide, what happens when they can’t, or simply don’t want to? These societal pressures often leave little room for emotional truth, forcing many men to struggle silently. But what if strength didn’t mean silence?
Fragile Strength began as a response to that silence. What began as a conversation about masculinity and mental health gradually evolved into a dynamic, living space for honest expression. Supported by the Instituto Cervantes, Alliance Française, and the Men Welfare Trust, the project began in India and evolved into a traveling exhibition that made its way to the UK.
Listening to the Stories We Don't Always Hear
Let's take a walk through ‘Fragile Strength’. It started with a simple and powerful question: What does it mean to hold space for stories that are often silenced?
The heart of this project lies in vulnerability and opening doors for safe and open spaces where stories can be shared without judgment. As Onche Godwin, Program Lead at African Families in the UK, said, “Storytelling has power.” In his conversation for our panel discussion, he emphasized how group meetings and community gatherings can lift years of silence from people’s shoulders. These gatherings aren’t just spaces to speak but also to be seen and supported.
Through 15+ workshops, sessions, exhibitions and conversations across the year, Fragile Strength became more than just a project of art; it became a collection of stories. Artists from the Global South: Chetan Bhakuni, Maksaens Denis, Rohan Hande, Ruben Hamlyen, Tsoku Maela and Mario Nevado came together. They bought deep personal and social narratives that explored identity, masculinity, mental health and healing.
It has been a milestone for artist Chetan Bhakuni, as he had his UK debut as part of this journey. And while Fragile Strength traveled across borders, the themes stayed rooted: vulnerability, reflection and expression. All the works created and exhibited came from the South Asian region and stories shaped by artists who dared to express them loudly.
Where Research, Art and Community Meet
We partnered with the Department of Psychology at the University of Essex to deepen our understanding of how gender roles, silence, and cultural expectations shape mental health. From research to real conversations, the findings from these sessions helped shape the project into something larger than we imagined. It became a platform where expressions and art became a tool for healing and social change.
This collaboration allowed us to go deeper, from showcasing stories to understanding the systems that shape them. Many of the insights gathered through workshops and interviews reflected a need for spaces that prioritise care. It focuses on men who are never taught to be emotionally expressive. This isn’t just about art, it’s about creating a space where honesty can exist without shame. Where strength isn’t measured by how much you hold in, but by how deeply you allow yourself to feel.
This Journey Doesn’t End Here
It started as a quiet question, turning into a loud and collective feeling. It travelled across borders, through workshops, exhibitions and conversations. Fragile Strength wasn’t designed merely as a project, but to connect with the majority. It gave space to stories shaped by pressure, silence and cultural weight that are often neglected.
Along the way, artists, psychologists and communities came together not just to witness, but to understand one another. What we found is clear: strength isn’t about keeping it bottled up and suffering, but about showing and letting yourself be seen.
Thank you for walking with us and becoming part of this journey. Fragile Strength will continue to live on through stories, art, conversations and the communities that hold them.
Artlune is more than a gallery; it's a movement to showcase the voices of emerging and mid-career artists from South Asia.
For more information, contact us at admin@artlune.com or call +91 9899187125 (India), +44 743 693 3096 (UK)
