Two Dutch Museums Reimagine the Manosphere Through Contemporary Art Exhibitions

Two contemporary art exhibitions in the Netherlands are reimagining the manosphere as a physical terrain for redefining masculinity. "Beyond the Manosphere: Masculinities Today" runs at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam through August 2. A concurrent exhibition, "Am I Masculine?", is on view at the Noordbrabants Museum in den Bosch until June 14. Both shows propose alternative visions where the manosphere could become a space for gentler, kinder expressions of male identity. These exhibitions arrive during a period of urgent reappraisal of masculinity, where concepts like "toxic masculinity" and the "masculinity crisis" have gained significant cultural traction. The manosphere itself emerged as an online subculture promoting classical masculine values like physical strength and economic self-reliance, evolving into a multimillion-dollar industry. Amanda van Hesteren's film "I Want to Go Higher" is featured in the Stedelijk Museum exhibition. The shows collectively imagine transforming a digital network often associated with aggression into a place where men can freely define their identities.