Brainstorming Vulnerability

Brainstorm was part in the V&A Friday Late on (DE)CONSTRUCTED MASCULINITIES. Within the V&A’s wooden, brain-like bubble, Brainstorm created a space for honest and introspective communication about masculinity and mental health. Through poetry, performance and open conversation we wanted to bust wide open the social expectations of masculine behaviour, and put our shared brainpower to the question: what does a masculinity of the future look and feel like? The idea was to make this space into a communal brainstorming session: messy, honest, buzzing with ideas. “Performers” weren't on a raised platform miles away from “audiences”: anybody who wants to can participate in the discussion, speaking or writing. We wanted to create a physical environment where people feel comfortable sharing hopes, anxieties or fears, and also free to follow new ideas.