I'M FINE at Copeland Gallery

Over 40 artists were sent a brief asking them to think about masculinity, male mental health and breaking down ‘the wall’. This exhibition presents their multifaceted responses, in almost as many media: embroidery, sculpture, performance, knitwear, illustration and beyond... Brainstorm was set up to talk about the failures of communication around male mental illness and try envisage a masculinity that isn’t toxic. Last year, Dulcie’s dad passed away through suicide. His family had no idea of what had been going on inside his head; he hadn’t felt able to talk about it, even with them. The gender role assigned to men actively encourages this. This exhibition sets out to investigate and challenge this brittle gender role - because while being male or male-passing is a privilege, no man will ever live up to masculine stereotypes: each will be differently alienated and marginalised from this so called ‘ideal’. The recent reports of sexual harassment across many fields reinforce how much we need this conversation, and make right now the moment to have it. Brainstorm’s exhibtion IM FINE is in support of CALM, Campaign Against Living Miserably: they are an invaluable lifeline for men in crisis, on the frontline of changing the discourse surrounding masculinity.