Dovetailed
Charmmy, depicted in the work, is one of the last practicing Geisha in Tokyo. She exists at the intersection of a tradition that dates back to the Edo period and the present day, where her fiercely independent spirit makes her a one-of-a-kind national treasure.
In these photographs, two ancient practices converge: the art of the Geisha and Shibari. Shibari's roots lie in Hojojutsu, a method used by samurai in feudal Japan to restrain prisoners. Over centuries, these techniques evolved into an erotic form of bondage, embraced by the nobility during the Edo period (1603-1868). Though rooted in restraint, Shibari becomes a powerful tool of empowerment for Charmmy, who describes it as "healing," as it allows her to transform the act of being bound into an expression of strength and autonomy.
