Shot entirely by candlelight, this is the first film Kirigami and Tenshiko made together with Nicholas Bastianello. The candles draw the two performers into an intimate space, where ropes, gestures and exchanged glances unfold at their own pace. Shibari takes shape in a quiet atmosphere of closeness and mutual attention.
The film is also a rare record of Kirigami’s early work, from the period when he still wore a mask. With his face concealed, his hands, his body and his connection with Tenshiko carry the encounter. It offers a glimpse of those beginnings, with kinbaku revealing the relationship between the person tying and the person entrusting herself to the ropes.
Ropes: Kirigami. Model: Tenshiko. Video: Nicholas Bastianello.