Over the last few years modern masculinity has been under the microscope. Poor mental health, shifts to far-right politics, toxic influencer and incel culture online and growing body image issues are all impacting. Media discourse tends to focus on agendas and narratives rather than just asking men what they think and feel, which needs to change. I’ve spent the past year photographing my male friends and asking them the same question:
”What does being a man mean to you?”
Stay tuned for episode 1
Photography, filming and editing by @_martynewoma
Song: Delightful produced by @darryltheband
Submissions are back open for @sludgemag community members! ✨
As a thank you to everyone who already supports our platform and makes what we do possible we've decided to re-open submissions for our monthly supporters.
If you're a creative who wants to share your photography, event, short-film, fashion designs or whatever your discipline of choice is with our audience (as well as a whole host of other privileges) then hit the 🔗in our bio to find out more about community membership today.
Thailand based Christopher Harborne is worth over an estimate £18 billion. He thinks a Reform UK government is worth donating millions of pounds to. Make of that what you will.
(Source: The Sunday Times)
Colombian artist Delcy Morelos' new sculpture orelo is now open to the public at @barbicancentre sculpture court. The structure is rooted in ancestral Andean traditions of and aesthetics of abstract minimalism. In a statement Morelos shared that “In Andean ancestral traditions, the human being is living earth, I am a body, I am earth. In the exhibition space, the earth expresses itself; it is the centre and mirror of what we are.” Its beautiful to see how other cultures interact with the earth's materials and this sculpture welcomes visitors to tap into their innately playful and wondrous side
📍 Barbican Sculpture Court, Silk St, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS
🗓️ 15th of May - 31st July
Last year we reported on @arsenal sacking their kit man of 22 years Mark Bonnick. He made a series of pro-Palestine tweets expressing sympathy for the tens of thousands of civilians killed by Israel. After the predictable (and false) claims of antisemitism the FA launched an investigation. The investigation found that Bonnick's posts were not antisemitic, Arsenal sacked him anyway. Next season's Arsenal kit will feature a sleeve sponsor from Israeli founded company Deel replacing their longstanding controversial Visit Rwanda sponsor.
(🚨Trigger warning: racism, violence🚨)
@misanharriman is currently the victim of a coordinated attempted character assassination by some of our countries most cynical and disingenuous reprobates. The photographer and outspoken activist rose to mainstream prominence largely due to his documentary photography of the Black Lives Matter movement. Since then he has been a vocal critic of colonialism, apartheid and genocide in Gaza as well the growing normalisation of fascism in the U.K.
In the wake of the recent Southwark and Golders Green stabbings Harriman shared social media posts highlighting the discrepancy in coverage between the two Jewish men stabbed in Golders Green and the Muslim man stabbed earlier in the day in Southwark. This discrepancy was easy to see in the form of an immediate Cobra meeting and major news outlets referencing the story as the "Golders Green stabbings". Despite this Labour MP David Taylor and the Telegraph accused Harriman of sharing conspiracy theories.
After the recent local council elections Harriman quoted writer Susan Sontag saying “She said when thinking about the Holocaust, 10% of people in any population are cruel no matter what, and 10% is merciful no matter what and the other, this is important, the other remaining 80% could be moved in either direction. It’s such a profound way to look at us. In the context of yesterday’s election result it is something which I think is really topical.” In response the Telegraph reported that Harriman compared Reform's victories to the Holocaust and Reform MP Robert Jenrick labelled Harriman a "moron" also calling for him to be dropped as a governor from @southbank centre.
A letter in support of Harriman has been signed by Riz Ahmed, Greta Thunberg, Gary Lineker and Susan Sontag biographer. On the other hand the Labour party are active participants in a genocide and Robert Jenrick literally complained about not seeing enough white faces in Handsworth. So we'll leave you to decide who carries the moral authority of racism and responsible public engagement. For whatever it is worth we would like to add our unwavering supporting to Misan Harriman too.
If you grew up deciding whether it would be a Total 90 or Mercurial Vapor year in the early noughties, this one is for you. @phaidonpress have released a book with @nikefootball documenting the history of the brand's football boots. The book was written by @caleb_anelson and @@thomas_a_turner with a foreword from @ellygoeswest and afterword from @candanoclau and features over 500 images.
Football boots are increasingly being recognised as a vehicle for fashion designers to apply their codes in a new format. Lots of designer brands are collaborating with boot makers to make fashion statements which are genuinely functional and pitch ready. We stand by our request for someone to make tabi boots. In the meantime this book offers an opportunity for us to recognise the design credentials of boot makers long before the hype.
Despite the best efforts of the Epstein class the public have not forgotten about Palestine. Our politicians and media have done everything they can to avert our attention but on the 17th of May @artistsforgaza1 will return to @scala . Iconic musicians and DJs including Paul Weller, Madness, Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie, DJ Prime Cuts and more will perform to raise money for @healthworkers4palestine . Medical aid is crucial and creatives will continue to do what we can, but we need an end to government collaboration in genocide and @uklabour need to continue to be held to account.
🗓️17 May 2026
🕣16:00-00:00
📍Scala, King’s Cross, London, 275 Pentonville Road, N1 9NL
🎟️ available via the 🔗in bio
