In a dimly lit room, a rigger binds a model with knots and ties. Blindfolded and suspended in mid-air, the body is a language of its own. A tapestry of signs -- breathing, facial expressions and intricate patterns -- is a medium of communication.
To the untrained eye, shibari is dismissed simply as sexual bondage. But one practitioner says that really misses the point.
"There is a common misconception that shibari is tying somebody up and having sex. No, you don't need to spend years learning shibari, if that's all you want to do," said Daniel, also known as DrPolidori.
"Shibari is the whole universe in itself. Somebody would have to be really desperate to spend years learning shibari just to have sex. The rope is a language between two people. It's a way to connect."
Running at Cinema Oasis from May 30 to July 11, Daniel's "Bangkok Shibari" features a film screening and an art exhibition to explore this vibrant subculture in Thailand. It brings together 10 artists including Fox Cordee, Tom Potisit, Mellow Dog and Alex Gust, at Galerie Oasis on the 3rd floor of the cinema.
"I think what is missing is the heart. It is actually the connection. You switch it off when you fantasise. The whole point of shibari is to engage with your heart, or what the Japanese call kokoro," he said.
Rooted in hojojutsu, a Japanese martial art for restraining prisoners, shibari evolved into erotic and artistic bondage by the early 20th century. A cross-pollination of Japanese sadomasochism and Western fetishism occurred during World War II. Nowadays, shibari has morphed into diverse practices, including somatic therapy.
"As Fox mentioned, it has become more mainstream and acceptable just like pole dancing. I think it is a really good analogy because pole dancing used to be like a sexual thing in clubs and now it is an exercise," Daniel said.
East meets West in Thailand
Born and raised in the UK, Daniel has a background in science and art. He completed a bachelor's degree in computer engineering and a master's degree in telecommunications. While working mostly in a research lab, he had stints in art, especially filmmaking.
"I wanted to live as an artist and starve in a garage. I didn't really want to do anything commercial, but it turned out I am actually good at it," he said.
After spending most of his time in the UK and Australia, Daniel moved to Thailand in 2006, but hopped around Taiwan and China. Although he had heard of shibari, it was not until 2016 when a "rope jam" inspired him to start tying knots.
In the exhibition film Bangkok Shibari, Daniel notes the city "straddles Eastern and Western shibari influences". Dong Redrope, a local self-taught artist, pursued shibari when he found magazines in a house rented to American soldiers during the Vietnam War. Shibari also came to Thailand through foreign masters, including Yoi Yoshida and the late Rigger Mortis.
After moving from the US to Chiang Mai, Rigger continued teaching shibari to amateurs. Daniel was his student in 2016. Because building robots had been his hobby, it makes sense that he gravitated to shibari. Both require technical mastery and aesthetics.
Last November, Daniel showcased some of his photos at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. Frustrated by the eroticisation of shibari for commercial gain, he decided to organise the event at Cinema Oasis to show that shibari is more versatile than gratification of carnal desire.
That is why his documentary Bangkok Shibari does not portray any red-light district. He said it did surprise audiences.
"Bangkok has a connotation for a lot of Westerners that I don't like," he said. "I always want to kind of break through it."
Diverse shades of shibari
During an interview, Daniel showed shibari photos on his social media. I noted that to some, they may seem very pornographic. He explained that although there are riggers who like sexual bondage, he worries that such postures cause injury.
"Well, I don't know because it would be very difficult to have sex with somebody in that position," he said. "Even masters say it is not for sex. You know, it's not actually possible to have sex because the person is struggling so much."
At the heart of shibari is emotional connection between a rope top and a rope bottom. It involves trust, consent and responsibility. In Bangkok Shibari, a rope artist describes a more intense, painful form of rope play, semenawa, through an analogy of putting a collar on a dog. On the other hand, aibunawa is gentler. The dog comes to its owner on its own.
Still, his documentary has been criticised for not exploring the dark side -- finding the right person to tie.
"I mean, yes, it's got to be a trustworthy person. Obviously, you know, there are predators out there. It's the same with any BDSM. If you're going to submit yourself to somebody, you need to find somebody who will respect and treat you well," he said.
Daniel explained that while some use shibari as a medium of self-expression, others use it as a form of meditation. A young girl with ADHD uses shibari to improve her focus. He also establishes a cultural parallel between the binding of holy thread in ceremonies, such as weddings and bai sri su kwan (spirit retrieval), and shibari.
Daniel said it is difficult to gauge the size of this subculture. His Line group has around 1,600 followers. In terms of demography, he unusually encounters a lot of female and queer riggers. In most cities, shibari is more male-dominated.
Daniel has a couple of pieces of advice to shibari practitioners. Regardless of how much they know, they could cause nerve injury.
"I find that it is most difficult to tie someone you don't know. Each body is different and some are more susceptible to injury," he said.
For newbies, they should visit rope jams and start with tying knots.
"Don't get discouraged by this. This is not what shibari is about, but they are alphabets. Once you have them, you'll be able to create a beautiful language," he said.
Bangkok Shibari runs until July 11 at Cinema Oasis in Sukhumvit 43, near BTS Phrom Phong. Check showtime at cinemaoasis.com. Tickets (160 baht) are available in front of the cinema. For more details, contact Daniel at 083-276-5622 or shibariworkshopsth @gmail.com. Follow the artist's account on Instagram at dr_polidori_3.
