Shibari Art Exhibition
Rope and body in dialogue
Ichi Taikan presents photographic insights into Japanese rope art –
moments between tension and stillness, encounter and trust.
The exhibition explores how rope and body enter into a silent dialogue. Emotions speak through imagery, lines become narrative, and situations leave impressions that stay.
Why Shibari exhibitions matter
To present Shibari in an artistic context means opening perception
and creating space for new perspectives.
Many people still associate Shibari primarily with bondage, eroticism or sexuality –
assumptions shaped by media, pop culture and simplified portrayals.
An exhibition allows those assumptions to be gently opened,
while showing that Shibari is far more than what most expect.
The photographs invite viewers to look beyond clichés:
to see craftsmanship, body communication, the encounter of two peoplewho trust one another.
They reveal moments of stillness, focus, closeness,
security, structure and movement.
In this way, a multi-layered understanding emerges –
one that cannot be reduced to roles or erotic imagery.
Shibari can appear intimate without being sexualized.
It can show closeness without being voyeuristic.
It can move without exposing.
Especially through photography, its many facets become visible –
between emotion and technique,
between clear lines and soft moments.
Live demonstrations accompanying the exhibition highlight
what is often only implied in photographs:
the fine balance between guidance and release, tension and ease,
support and surrender.
They reveal the connection of two people working together in the moment –
focused, respectful, present.
A Shibari exhibition creates something rare:
a protected space where viewers can experience
how diverse, artistic and deeply human this form of body art is –
and how far it reaches beyond the narrow frame of pure eroticism
often projected onto it.
Insights into Shibari
How the images come into being
Many of the photographs emerge from real sessions –
where connection, breath and trust are central,
and the camera remains a quiet companion.
In these moments, images are not staged.
They are found.
During floorwork, the focus lies on closeness, presence and internal processes.
The photographs capture those quiet, often deeply emotional moments
that cannot be planned.
And suspensions highlight technique, precision and safety.
Between concentration and craft, images of forms, patterns and linework appear –
sometimes minimal, sometimes dynamic, sometimes almost sculptural.
When the person in the ropes allows themselves to arrive in the experience,
the strongest images often unfold.
Movement softens, breathing deepens,
and the sense of time fades.
These are the moments that shape many of the photographs –
not staged, not directed,
but grown through trust, presence
and the delicate balance between support and surrender.
Past Exhibitions
November 02, 2025
Kulturscheune
91481 Münchsteinach
The exhibition features more than 150 photographs, allowing Shibari to be experienced in many forms – from close-up imagery of intricate knots to large-scale works capturing movement and connection.
Program
12:00–18:00 – Photography exhibition on two floors
- 14:00 – Live rope performance with piano accompaniment
- 16:00 – Live rope performance with piano accompaniment
- Book presentation Learning Shibari 1 and on our „Shibari Memes 1–3“
During the event, guests have the opportunity to speak with the artist, learn about the creative process, and explore the background behind the images.
Admission 18+ or with a parent or legal guardian.
November 03, 2024
Kulturscheune
91481 Münchsteinach
The exhibition features more than 100 photographs, presenting Shibari in a wide range of expressions – from detailed close-ups of knots to large-format works capturing movement and encounter.
Program
12:00–18:00 – Photography exhibition on two floors
- 14:00 – Live rope performance
- 16:00 – Live rope performance
- Book presentation „Shibari Memes 1 & 2“
During the event, guests have the opportunity to speak with the artist, learn about the creative process, and explore the background behind the images.
Admission 18+ or with a parent or legal guardian.
June 09, 2024
Kulturscheune
91481 Münchsteinach
The exhibition presents photographic impressions of Shibari in diverse forms of expression – from close-up studies of intricate knots to large-scale imagery capturing movement and encounter.
Program
12:00–18:00 – Photography exhibition on two floors
- 14:00 – Live rope performance
- 16:00 – Live rope performance
During the event, guests have the opportunity to speak with the artist, learn about the creative process, and explore the background behind the images.
Admission 18+ or with a parent or legal guardian.
