The London Festival of the Art of Japanese Bondage, 25-28 June, will be totally unique. We are keen to promote kinbaku (aka shibari/Japanese rope bondage) as an artistic inspiration, a performance art in its own right and as a means of erotic communication, whilst sharing knowledge about it and its cultural context.
Events
The venue will be themed with Japanese décor, food, drinks, live music, demonstrations and, of course, girls in kimonos.
Thurs, 25 June, 8pm - 12pm: Kinbaku Salon, an opportunity for photographers and artists to capture the amazing work of Nawashi Murakawa, a highly skilled illustrator and bondage artist, with a traditional Japanese theme.
Fri, 26 June, 8pm - 12pm: An exhibition of Japanese bondage art, including the iconic Yoshitoshi woodblock print "The Lonely House on Adachi Moor", photography, ceramics, body casting and other mediums, plus bondage performances and talks by the artists. A great opportunity to socialise and meet the stars of the event.
Sat, 27 June, 12am - 6pm: A series of workshops and classes to enhance your bondage related skills, e.g. speed bondage by Zamil, bondage photography workshop, ‘Tying people, not parcels’ by Esinem; plus a rope free-for-all in the dojo with cushioned floor and multiple suspension points, with expert advice on
Sat, 27 June, 10pm - till late: The big rope party with an international cast of top bondage performers throughout the night. In addition to traditional style shibari shows, there will be some interesting and unusual ones. We have been promised a blend of rope and butoh, zentai, plus ‘suspension meets
Sun, 28 June, 2pm - 7pm: Presentations on tying skills, history of kinbaku, “What do you get from bondage” Q& A panel session and other fascinating subjects, plus market, shiatsu massages, acupuncture and lots more.
Sun, 28 June, 7pm - 11pm: Festival of Japanese films, including private footage of grand-master, Akechi Denki.
The Lonely House on Adachi Moor Jamie McCartney
A multi-award winning sculptor and the UK's leading life-casting artist. In addition to making casts of his clients, Jamie uses the process to create his increasingly recognised and controversial gallery works. He was awarded the 2007 Erotic Signature sculpture prize for The Spice of Life, which features in the glossy coffee table book, The World’s Greatest Erotic Art of Today Vol 1 and looks set for iconic status. April 2007 saw the opening in the West End of Amora, The Academy of Sex and Relationships, which features this and six more of Jamie’s sculptures on permanent display.
In 2008 Jamie's Internal Affairs, an internal vaginal casting, was accepted into the permanent art collection of the World Famous Kinsey Institute. His neo-surrealist sculpture The Impossibility of Passion was runner up in the 2008 Erotic Signature competition and features in the The World’s Greatest Erotic Art of Today Vol II.
His work often tends to feed into our curiosity and insecurities, working on many levels, both aesthetic and conceptual, there are always elements to intrigue and to captivate. Always evolving and developing new processes as he goes, Jamie's eclectic artworks are becoming something of a trademark.
‘Patalab
Markus Seifermann founded ‘Patalab with Uwe Schmidt-Hess as a “studio which explores the potential of architecture”.
Markus was responsible for the layout of the “The lost space of Stiller” exhibition that opened in ETH University of Zurich on Feb. 18 got its inspiration from “Stiller”, the novel by the Swiss architect and writer Max Frisch.
In collaboration with the Max Frisch Archive in Zurich, the initiative looks at the protagonist of the novel as a metaphor of a journey for identity, a bridge between architecture and literature.
The installation space included four boxes in the main University hall:
- Stiller's studio, where fragments of identity are put together in objects and collages;
- the dining room, with rope bound mannequins where scenes of Stiller's real house in Zurich are projected on the table and a record player generates a continuous, strident sound;
- the bathroom, a cold aseptic setting;
- the attic immersed in darkness and filled with whispering and voices that narrate passages from the book.
Rope, Bondage & Power
We will be launching this compilation of essays from experts around the world, edited Lee ‘Bridgett’ Harrington, eclectic artist, spiritual and erotic educator, gender adventurer and published author on human sexuality and spiritual experience.
There is no other book currently in print that covers such a wide range of topics for rope enthusiasts. There are many extraordinary rope books in print, but they are almost exclusively guides to how one goes about learning this art. Said differently, virtually all the rope books in print are meant to help readers learn the how of rope bondage. That’s not what this book does. This book shares the views of seventeen prominent riggers as they explain the why of their art. This book is about the power of rope. This book is also about the power exchange aspect of rope. Even more that that, this book is about the intimacy of rope.
Mark Boyce, ceramic artist/designer
As director of Sour Designs, Mark was nominated for British Wall Covering Designer of the Year. His ‘cow parsley’ tile design was featured across numerous publications, such as Wallpaper, Grand Designs, Elle Decoration, The Times, Independent and The Guardian.
He was also Art Consultant on the popular BBC entertainment series The Armstrong’s.
Using materials such as Porcelain, Gold, Silver and Platinum Lustre, Mark is currently working on a series of bespoke, hand carved ceramic wall coverings based on a collage of Japanese Rope Bondage, which will make their premier at our event.
The venue:
Resistance Gallery is an unique, multi-functional, modern, 2,200sq ft arts, performance & gallery space in the creative heart of Bethnal Green, London E2. They provide art exhibition space, theatre, avant-garde gatherings, cabaret, photographic shoots, filming & video location, live music events, multi media installation experiences, workshops etc.
Organisers
Bruce Argue/Esinem: One of the most accomplished and well-known kinbaku (Japanese rope bondage) artists outside of Japan. Runs regular classes in London.
Garry Vanderhorne: Owner of Resistance Gallery and an experienced promoter. His most spectacular success is the Lucha Britannia phenomena.
To book your tickets visit the Japanese Art Rope Bondage website
