Open today 10:00–23:00

Harder Better Faster Stronger

Are Men Ok?

Four young East Asian men stand in profile in a row in a bright room. They are posing with their athletic bodies, wearing only shorts and socks. One man wears a white cap and another has a tattoo on his arm. They look to the left, and the last man is holding a wire.
Lads, 2023 © Wang Ziyu

What does it mean to be a man today? Is masculinity something we are born with, something we learn, or somethingwe are expected to achieve? Masculinity is currently being debated everywhere, from popular culture and social media to dinner tables and the halls of power. On October 3, Harder Better Faster Stronger – Are Men OK? opens at Fotografiska Stockholm, a major group exhibition in which 30 artists from around the world explore one of the most widely debated questions of identity of our time.

Two young men hug outdoors by a lake at sunset. One wears a baseball cap and holds a cell phone; the other smiles, wearing a backpack.

From looksmaxxing to bar fights

Few questions today evoke such strong emotions as the question of masculinity. Notions of masculinity affect everything from relationships and family life to mental health, social media, politics, and culture. As old ideals are being questioned, many are searching for new ways to understand concepts such as strength, status, intimacy, success, and identity.

In this autumn’s major group exhibition Harder Better Faster Stronger – Are MenOK? , Fotografiska brings together 30 artists from around the world to explore these questions. From looksmaxxing to bar fights, from paternity leave to wrestling, and from ideals of strength, courage, and self-confidence to care, tears, and insecurity. Through photography, film, and sculpture, visitors encounter different images of masculinity and the question of what happens when you fail to fit the mold.

A man with dark curly hair and a mustache sits barefoot on a parquet floor with his legs crossed. He is wearing a white t-shirt with a dark print and black pants. He is looking directly at the camera. To his right, a small baby in a patterned onesie stands and reaches up towards a large cluster of colorful pastel-colored balloons. There are balloons on the floor and hanging around two closed white doors in the background.
Black and white photograph of a young man wearing a white tank top and jeans standing at a gas station or auto repair shop. He has his hands behind his head, a cigarette in his mouth, and looks directly at the camera. Behind him is a classic car raised on a lift, and a wheeled car jack stands in the foreground to the right.

Who benefits from the ideals?

The four words in the title – harder, better, faster, stronger – are associated with traditional ideals of strength, development, and ambition. But they can also be demands: get tougher, perform better, keep moving forward, and never show weakness. The subtitle Are Men OK? points to the consequences. Who benefits from these ideals, who is limited by them, and how do they affect not just men, but everyone?

“We want to create an exhibition that does not try to define what a man is or should be, but instead shows how contradictory, changeable, and human masculinity can be. It can encompass strength and vulnerability, community and solitude, violence and care. The artists’ widely differing perspectives open up more questions rather than offering a single answer,” says Johan Vikner, Global Director of Exhibitions at Fotografiska, who is curating the exhibition together with Sofia Liljergren, Exhibition Producer at Fotografiska Stockholm.

read more about the exhibition →

A man sits on a chair in front of a large mounted bear hide in a simple room with brick walls. He is wearing camouflage clothing and a cap. To the left, a tray or container with dark contents rests on top of a wooden crate.
Two men stand in front of a red fire truck inside a fire station. One is wearing a uniform shirt and cap, while the other wears a black T-shirt, blue work trousers and tall boots. They are holding hands.

upcoming events

Deep dive into the themes of the exhibition with everything from stand-up and drag to book talks, film, and breathwork.

2 Oct 2026 – 18:00-23:00

Opening Party: Harder Better Faster Stronger – Are Men OK?

Step straight into the biggest opening party of the year and experience Fotografiska like you’ve never seen it before.

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A full-length, front-facing image of a young man of East Asian descent with short, dark hair, centered within a metal power rack at a gym. He is wearing a white graphic t-shirt with the text "I AM IN TRAINING DON'T FIGHT ME" and grey shorts. He holds a barbell resting on the j-cups, with multiple weight plates on each side. Behind him, there's a dark blue wall and a light wooden floor. He is looking directly at the camera with a serious expression.

3 Oct 2026 – 14:00–15:00

Artist Panel Talk: Harder Better Faster Stronger

Meet some of the artists behind Fotografiska's major autumn exhibition Harder Better Faster Stronger – Are Men OK?

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Three teenage boys pose in front of a green sports net outdoors. The boy on the left holds the net above his head and looks right, the middle boy poses with his arms up holding the net while looking left, and the boy on the right poses with one hand on his hip and the other holding the net while looking down. The boys are dressed in dark t-shirts, a hoodie, and jeans. The background shows lush greenery and a brick building.

17 Sep 2026 – 19:00–21:00

Talkshow: ARE MÄN OK? (SWE)

The Scrolling Man: On Masculinity, Algorithms, and Internet Culture

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20 Sep 2026

Breathwork with Hale

An immersive breathwork experience for calm, focus, and recovery

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A black-and-white close-up portrait of a man with a beard and short hair. His eyes are closed and his hands are pressed together in front of his face, with his fingertips resting against his forehead in deep focus, prayer, or contemplation.

9 Oct 2026 – 19:30–21:30

Standup x Oslipat: K Svensson & Ola Aurell

Oslipat brings a sharp, hilarious evening on masculinity to Fotografiska – with K Svensson, Ola Aurell, Fritte Fritzson and more comedians on stage.

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Collage showing: Comedians Ola Aurell with a guitar on the left and K Svensson in a pink beanie on the right, against a white background.

partnership and dialogue

To explore the subject from multiple perspectives, the exhibition has been developed in dialogue with an international advisory board consisting of researchers, artists, and cultural practitioners. Throughout the project, the board has contributed knowledge and insights on masculinity, identity, culture, and social change. Fotografiska is also working closely with the Swedish organization MÄN, which works to prevent men’s violence and promote gender equality, both as a knowledge partner and as a partner in the many activations surrounding the exhibition throughout the autumn.

read more about MÄN