Ontario

Night/Bloom - Artist statement

After lifetimes of violence, the fabled hero abandons his journey, leaving his battlements behind. At long last he sheds himself of his armour and lays his scabbard in the dirt.

"Let my iron decay into rust, let it return to the soil from which it was plucked. Let the seeds crack the pavement, and the vines sheer apart the stones of my castle walls." Stripped of his armaments, soft and exposed, the grass passed lightly over his skin. The small hairs of his nape stood on end, as if reaching out to return the touch. Warmed by the divine heat of the golden sun, he wept, and he understood.

This body of work explores the interaction of two narratives surrounding masculinity - one rooted in the expanding understanding that gender exists on a spectrum, and the other in the recognition of how toxic masculinity limits men's ability to connect with one another. If gender is a spectrum, then masculinity must be as well. We often identify toxic masculinity as one end of that spectrum, but rarely ask: what lies on the other end? Could it be gentle masculinity? Soft masculinity? Healthy masculinity? Divine masculinity?

We speak of divine femininity, and mythologies are full of hyper-masculine gods. But what does it mean for humans to embody divine healthy masculinity? If I had a simple answer to that question, I wouldn't have spent a year painting this collection -I would have written it down.

There is an authentic power that comes through vulnerability and connection with one another. Yet many men are barred from that kind of connection by the cultural "armour" we wear. True power doesn't come from domination-it comes from mutual connection. But much of our current understanding of masculinity still stems from medieval Christian archetypes and the narrative of the "hero's journey", shaping how we relate to power and each other.

Combining queerness, kink, and medieval imagery might seem contradictory - but they all relate to power dynamics. Kink, when done ethically, is grounded in trust, consent, and deep vulnerability. In these spaces, power isn't assumed; it's offered, discussed, and negotiated. By stepping outside dominant cultural norms and into chosen dynamics, kink can become an act of resistance - a practice of intentional, intimate connection.

But this exploration isn't limited to kink. In many queer and non-dominant subcultures, people reimagine power in creative, subversive ways that challenge the rigid armour often associated with Western masculinity. This offer pathways to more authentic connection. I also want to acknowledge that I still struggle with this myself — with letting go of that armour and truly connecting. This collection is an exploration of that journey.

As you move through this exhibition, I invite you to consider your own relationship to power, connection, and vulnerability. What does it mean to show up without armour?

What might a more expansive, tender version of masculinity look like and feel like?

Robin Henry is a dedicated artist from London, Ontario with a focus on illustration, printmaking, and public art installations. With a passion for making art accessible, Robin's work has resonated with a wide audience, from international brands to small businesses and most importantly, a great many London punks.

Robin's artistic journey is deeply influenced by screen printing and their work is characterized by clean black lines, distilling concepts into images of illustrated iconography. Through their art, Robin often explores memories, experiences and emotions through the visual themes of botanicals, animal life, houses and cabins, doorways and portals to other places, and mountains with peaks and valleys. 

Robin also does live screen printing demonstrations and workshops, sharing their passion with aspiring artists and inviting others to explore their own creativity. Robin’s work reflects a humble dedication to the power of creativity as a means of reflection, processing, meditation, and connection.

Night/Bloom June 2025