F&B Intimations 7 - Silent Shibari

Our 7th Intimations event offers an introduction to the beautiful Japanese art of rope bondage, Shibari. This 3-hour workshop, aimed at beginners, will be led by our wonderful long-time Fox&Badge collaborators Anna Kii & Nik Yourknots..

At Fox&Badge, we have always loved the aesthetics and beauty, sensuality and emotiveness of this art form, and this evening is a perfect opportunity for our community to take centre-stage, experience something that might otherwise be more normally only witnessed as a performance, and explore what Anna describes as powerful “notions of visual beauty, sexuality, power exchange, relaxation and challenges of the body.”

-----ORIGINS-----

Shibari originated from the ancient martial art and form of restraint, Hojo-jutsu, where a lack of steel availability forced warriors to use rope to subdue enemies on the battlefield (even to this day, police still use it in place of handcuffs). The tradition became highly aestheticised, and then eroticised by early C20th artist Seiu Ito’s paintings of sexual torture; the more highly sexualised variant, Kinbaku, then arose with Shibari’s incorporoation into 1950’s erotic magazines & then BDSM culture.

-----EXPERIENCE-----

Our evening will begin with a gentle sharing circle and introduce the basics of Shibari. We will then arrange everyone in pairs to explore how we each connect and collaborate through rope, using non-verbal communication to attune and respond to our partner.
The evening will be divided into 2 parts with a break. Each part will begin with a lesson and explanation, followed by rope practice where we will encourage silence and sensual contemplation, so we can deepen into the sensual experience. Blindfolds will be available.

Since this is a beginner’s introduction, we will not be exploring complex or difficult rope patterns, or anything as ambitious and strenuous as suspensions, but rather the beautiful ways we can create trust, intimacy, relaxation and liberation. Explicit eroticism and nudity will be reserved for future non-beginner classes.
We will then offer ways to deepen your interest and practice after the workshop.
Anna will also showcase some of her beautiful Shibari and rope couture accessories which she designs under the brand “Figure of A”

-----NB-----

-Tickets can either be purchased as singles or pairs; guests are welcome to bring a partner, or can be allocated one.
-Clear consent and communication will be emphasised.
-Everyone will be given the opportunity to both tie & be tied; to be both rigger and model, or explore only one role if preferred.
-No experience is required.
-Rope will be provided, though you are also welcome to bring your own if you fancy.
-Please wear comfortable clothes, and bring blankets & pillows if desired.

We deeply look forward to welcoming you to this beautiful experience.

-----BIOGS-----

Anna Kii is a multidisciplinary rope artist. Her main interests combine Shibari with performance as well as installations and immersive experiences with the audience. She is well-represented on the kink and fetish scene in London and beyond. She also runs the Shibari accessories brand, Figure of A, translating traditional Shibari patterns used for binding the body to clothes and accessories, where rope has both a functional and decorative purpose; her pieces are stocked by Coco de Mer & many more, and some will be on display and available to purchase on the night..
www.figureofa.com
https://www.instagram.com/figureofa

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Nik Yourknots has been interested in rope bondage for the last 6 years. His unique and eclectic style, with a focus on aesthetics and intention, stems from his training in three art institutions across Russia and the UK, and the teachings of a variety of bondage artists from Europe, America and Asia. Nik's versatile work ranges from photo and video to performance and installation art. His interests reach beyond bondage to include poetry, dance, sound and video design, all of which feed into his work as a shibari artist. Nik's work has been featured in print, film, and events in the UK and internationally.
https://www.instagram.com/yourknots

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Intimations is a series of frequent, smaller-scale events enabling the Fox&Badge community to congregate and explore intimacy and connection, self-expression and authenticity, healing and growth. They explore various forms of nourishing, artistic, conscious and spiritual activities: Ecstatic Dance and Movement Medicine, sound healing and sound baths, collective singing and choir-song, Kirtan and toning, Authentic Relating and Compassionate Enquiry, as well as workshops exploring tactility, animality, primal play, acting improvisation, kink, conversation, our inner child etc.
These intimate events offer our community the chance to experience beautiful work by well-respected practitioners - as well as a platform to step up and offer themselves.

#fb2201Intimations