Shibari inspired photoshoot

One photoshoot and three participants and three perspectives. Nikki - the model. James - the rope artist. Marina - the photographer

Tell a bit about yourself. What is your story?

N: My name is Nikki (aka @enchanted.bunny) and I am a performer and kinkster based in Brisbane.

J: 20 plus years in the kink scene, in performing and teaching and play. I got into this as a career and for connection to partners.

M: I am Marina. I am a professional boudoir photographer challenging societies perception of beauty and perfection.

What is Shibari?

N: Shibari is the practice of Japanese rope bondage.

J: Shibari is the modernization of Japanese ritualistic tying that was originally designed for varying levels of punishment and torture. Modern ties have a lot more safety and more focused on connection and shapes they make.

M: I know Shibari as a Japanese rope art.

When and how did you learn about Shibari?

J: 20 years but only ever was able to get educations outside of Japan in the last 10-15. I learnt from masters in Australia and travelled to Japan to learn from shibari masters there.

N: I’ve been involved for almost two years in the Brisbane scene. I first heard of shibari during my time working in Japan (2014ish). I have always had an interest in bondage and the power dynamics that exist in relationships. Rope helps that interest come into being.

M: Not sure when I have heard about Shibari for the first time. I saw Shibari as something painful, something that people practise in a dark dungeon. About a year ago, I saw an image of a woman tied in ropes and it had a very soft, almost fairytale-like vibe around it. I was enchanted.

What do you like about Shibari?

N: I came home to Australia after a high calibre performance career over in Asia due to health issues. After receiving treatment and getting better, I was looking for healthy ways to feel my pain and felt as though this was a good type of therapy.

I like the negotiations that occur before tying with someone. It’s a protocol within the kink scene to talk and agree on what is needed and wanted before things go ahead.

J: Connection. It has allowed me to meet many varied people and teach them and put on a show for them and also mainly allow me to connect on a deeper level to my partners

M: It is fascinating. I love patterns, I love the combination of pattern and the skin. With Shibari you get the pattern of the rope and then the marks it leaves on the skin. I love the contrast. I

Tell a bit about the photoshoot

M: This was my first time working with a bunny and a rigger. Since I saw the image mentioned above, I wanted to work with a Shibari model. In my head, Shibari was something dark, dangerous and painful. Most pictures of Shibari you find online are dark. I wanted to explore a different aspect of Shibari. There is this contrast of the rough and restrictive rope with soft lace and the baby breath flowers in the knots. Holding together and falling apart. Delicate and chunky. Pain and safety.

It was such a pleasure working with Nikki and James. I loved watching James creating with ropes and bringing my vision to life. Nikki was incredibly patient. I am in love with the end results and looking forward to doing another Shibari inspired photoshoot.

N: Our shoot was the last with my glorious red rigger bear. I loved every moment of this afternoon.

J: I enjoyed the creative process where I only had to worry about the model and rope. It was a pleasure to see Marina's creative process.

What can you tell people who are curious about Shibari? How and where can they learn about it?

N: There are many online resources for learning Shibari. I would recommend doing some research and finding a community that fits with your goals and values.

J: Shibari is no longer a dark art practised for torture. It is about connection to the model and allowing them to process and connect to their own body and its limits. It is not all pain and tight ropes. RedRigger Rope School is where I teach rope. https://www.redrigger.com/

M: It might not be what you think it is. Be open-minded. Do your research. Find people you can connect with. Try it.