Senju Shunga's Infinite Kinbaku Fantasies

To be bound yet boundless. A sensation of relief. Erotic rope play. I have heard numerous reasons why kinbaku attracts the attention of a person. As an artist, it is mainly the aesthetical aspects that beckon me. I am fascinated by the contortions, curvatures and suspensions in kinbaku imagery. There is also the rebelliousness against preconceived ideas and norms.

Fig.1. 'Muhen (infinite)' (29 June 2022)

Nobuyoshi Araki

When I first saw Nobuyoshi Araki's beautiful photographs of bound women (Fig.2 and 3), I was puzzled by their defiant look. Stuck in a learnt idea that being bound was predominantly an act of one-sided submission, I now had to think again. And again. Perhaps this is why I continue to explore kinbaku in my art. To learn and understand more about the human heart. Of true intimacy. 

Fig,1a,

Fig.2. Sin titulo (1995) by Nobuyoshi Araki

Fig.3. Tied pregnant female by Nobuyoshi Araki

Glimpses

The following pieces (and studies) are glimpses of work the artist made for a shibari / kinbaku (bondage) project in 2022...

Fig.4.

Fig.4a.

Fig.5.

Fig.6.

Fig.7

Fig.8.

Fig.9.

New Way of Painting

The following two pieces Tsuta (Fig.10) and Kiku (Fig.11) were created by a new way of painting which slowly emerged when the artist was working on his "36 Views of Mount Fuji" series. Senju comments, "Without any real intent things just started to make sense in the style of this new painting. When artistic evolution comes knocking there is really no sense to try to remain the same." Exclusive (5 copy) editions of these prints are available in the artist's gallery Two Cranes Gallery (we're not an affiliate)..

Fig.10. Tsuta (Ivy) (Aug 2023)

Fig.10a. 

Fig.11. Kiku (chrysanthemum) (Aug 2023)

Fig.11a.

In Premium you can find an extended version with 41 additional kinbaku studies by the artist.

Click HERE for another Senju work inspired by the Japanese grandmaster Nobuyoshi Araki

Senju's Muhen piece is available in his gallery.