Fragile Strength: A Journey Through Vulnerability and Art

Fragile Strength is not just an exhibition; it is a powerful response. It speaks to the silence surrounding the often invisible, unspoken battles that men face. In a world that teaches them to suppress vulnerability, many struggle with their mental health in silence.

At its core, this initiative blends creative practice with academic research. It aims to deepen our understanding of male mental health. Supported by the University of Essex, the project investigates how national, cultural, and personal factors shape men’s emotional lives.

The Role of Art in Mental Health

Art has a unique ability to convey emotions and experiences that words often fail to capture. Through the Fragile Strength project, we explore how storytelling can illuminate the complexities of male mental health. Art serves as a bridge, connecting us to the feelings and struggles that many men endure.

By engaging with art, we can foster conversations about vulnerability and emotional honesty. This dialogue is essential for breaking down the barriers that prevent men from expressing their true selves.

Maksaens Denis: A Voice of Emotional Complexity

Artlune’s Fragile Strength project continues its journey through powerful storytelling with the inclusion of Haitian artist Maksaens Denis. He is a master of audio-visual art whose work delves into identity, masculinity, and emotional vulnerability. Trained in audiovisual storytelling in Paris, Denis spent fifteen years working with major French television channels. However, it was his time in the underground techno scene that sparked his experimental practice. He mixes sound, image, and movement to create hypnotic, emotional performances.

Artlune's Founder - Vikas Garg with Maksaens Denis's Does Resisting Make Us Men?

How Denis’s Work Found Its Place in Fragile Strength

Curators at Artlune were drawn to Denis's ability to transform silence and motion into meditation. His work offers not just visuals but experiences that linger in the mind. His layered visuals, infused with dance, ritual, and ancestral memory, do more than depict resilience; they invite viewers to sit with it, feel it, and reflect. By doing so, his work resists singular definitions of strength and embraces emotional complexity as a form of power.

Does Resisting Make Us Men?

In Fragile Strength, Denis contributes his video piece "Resisting Makes Us Men," a profound exploration of how Black masculinity is shaped by cultural pressure and systemic control. His art questions how male bodies are politicized and expected to remain unyielding, even in the face of internal struggle.

Rather than presenting strength as something rigid, Denis reframes it as emotional openness. His work reflects the pain of repression but also the healing power of reclaiming space for vulnerability, ritual, and emotional honesty. Through symbolic visuals and layered soundscapes, he invites viewers to slow down and listen to the stories often hidden beneath the surface.

Maksaens Denis at The Minories

Redefining Strength with Art

In a society where men are often discouraged from showing vulnerability, Fragile Strength offers an alternative vision: that true strength lies in embracing fragility, not hiding it. Denis’s presence in the exhibition powerfully supports this message. Through his work, we are reminded that storytelling doesn't always need words. Sometimes, strength is found in a still image, a quiet sound, or a fleeting memory brought back to life through art.

Whether capturing a quiet landscape or the energy of a performer, he draws viewers into spaces that are both sacred and grounded in lived realities. Through his blending of textures, symbols, and sound, Denis challenges viewers to slow down and truly feel. He encourages us to recognize that emotional vulnerability is not a weakness but a radical act of strength.

The Importance of Community in Art

Art is not created in isolation. It thrives in community. The Fragile Strength project exemplifies this by bringing together artists, researchers, and audiences. This collaboration fosters a shared understanding of the complexities surrounding male mental health.

By engaging with one another, we can create a supportive environment where vulnerability is celebrated. This community aspect is vital for artists like Denis, who draw inspiration from their surroundings and the people in their lives.

Conclusion: Embracing Vulnerability Through Art

Fragile Strength is more than an exhibition; it is a movement. It invites us to confront the silence surrounding male vulnerability and mental health. Through the powerful work of artists like Maksaens Denis, we are encouraged to embrace our fragility.

Artlune is committed to showcasing the vibrant voices of emerging and mid-career artists from South Asia. By providing representation and fostering meaningful conversations, we aim to empower artists and audiences alike.

For* more information, contact us at admin@artlune.com or call +919899187125 (India), +44 743 693 3096 (UK)