On Sunday, March 1, we gathered in the concrete heart of the fort for the opening of The scuffle of the cuddle cage. The afternoon marked the start of the exhibition and served as a collective moment where artists and visitors explored the complex position of the feminine within a world dominated by masculine norms.

In her welcoming speech, director and curator Rabiaâ Benlahbib reflected on the nuances of this theme. She emphasised that through this exhibition, she aims to move beyond sketching a binary relationship between man and woman. It is about how the feminine is forced to relate to the masculine standard in our society. It is not a matter of “against,” but of “together.” After all, “the woman” participates in this patriarchal system herself—both consciously and unconsciously, and “the man” is desperately needed to help truly change that situation.

During an intimate conversation in a small setting, poignant topics were addressed. Participants reflected on how art concerning child abuse underlines the raw necessity for action. A dialogue emerged regarding the role of the artist: while one saw the activist element as essential for moving forward together, another offered a critical perspective. She questioned whether art should truly have an educational task, arguing that the power of art reaches much further than mere education.

Visitors moved through the exhibition past the diverse perspectives of Imge Özbilge, Anna Perach, Ischa Kempka, Shakuntala Kulkarni, Tair Uria, and Mieke Hessels. In the former military spaces, originally built for masculine defence, they now found works full of colourful indignation, dark humour, and glimpses of hope. From the ‘cuddle cage’ as a restrictive suit of armour to the cage as a safe place to recharge: the boundary between a self-chosen defence strategy and an imposed limitation was made tangible here.

We concluded the afternoon with drinks, where conversations about systems, resistance, and resilience continued. We thank the artists and galleries, the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, and the Mondriaan Fund for making this space for dialogue and confrontation possible.

The scuffle of the cuddle cage is open to the public until Sunday, May 31.