Body,
swaddled in ropes;
Mind,
liberated from restrains.
As breath brushes the skin,
the body begins to undulate,
with curves and recesses.
Illuminated by an array of light,
the ropes and knots,
reveal the snake-like presence in the mist of muscles,
then suddenly change to the whiplash of the supreme power;
In the murky light,
eyes gaze into each other,
like a beam of light penetrating the mist on ocean.
When the curtain is dropped,
she packs her ropes, and
quietly walks into the flow of everyday life,
without anyone knowing what’s in her backpack.
Shibari, or Kinbaku, is an ancient Japanese artistic form of rope bondage. Originally Shibari was a form of imprisonment for prisoners, later on was used on Geishas for punishment, the form of art was recored in history in many ukiyoe art works.
After WWII, the art of bondage had been perfected and applied in many areas such as dynamic living sculpture, expression of power exchange, and intimate, erotic restrains. Overtime, Shibari becomes a conversational art with beauty and aesthetics, the ropes and knots carry intense messages making it a deeper expression beyond visual. It is often performed with ritual experiences, as well as to delineate sacred spaces and times.
Araki Nobuyoshi - the controversial Japanese photographer - brought Shibari to a wider public and mass culture with his erotic artworks (photographs of women in bondage). He puts it as “the result that revolves from the inner deep and complex preferences” .
This episode we chat with Huahua, a female Shibari artist born and raised in London. After dropping out from Art History in college, Huahua traveled to Japan and devoted herself to learning Shibari. Now based in Shanghai, she teaches and performs Shibari art, while making video and photographic art.
- Timeline -
3:00
What is Shibari, really?
4:20
Finding the right medium to express until Shibari came along
7:20
Why do we want to be tied?
9:24
What is the “core” of what am I trying to express?
11:20
Shibari is about deep human connection
14:38
Words are weak, body movement is so much more powerful
17:25
Men dominate, women submit, us this the case?
19:05
The power of letting out emotions
21:00
As a teen, I wanted to act like a boy to be powerful
27:05
Who do I choose to tie
33:25
Personal memory revolving around 'intimate tying'
37:10
White sock girl that old men want to submit to
42:55
Your body tells all about you
45:40
Ropes: Colors & Meaning
49:25
“A long, intense eye contact”
59:10
Be good at one thing first, and then start blending
1:01:10
The wisdom of slow in Shibari art
1:03:05
I am young, doesn’t mean I can’t know what I want in life
1:06:50
I didn’t choose Shibari, Shibari IS part of my identity
1:09:50
I was reluctant to charge money for Shibari
1:10:47
Words for the audience
- Music -
The Here and After - 三宅纯
Some Feedback for Jozef Van Wissem - SQRL
- Team -
Interview & Editing: Ash
Copy: Sam, Lesley
For contact with the host, email: mengtianz@yahoo.com