May 2nd – June 8th, 2013

LONDON
Michael Hoppen Gallery
3 Jubilee Place SW3 3TD

Coinciding with the release of Taschen’s limited edition publication Nobuyoshi Araki.Bondage, a brief selection of the provocative Japanese photographer’s vast portfolio presents his portrayal of kinbaku, ‘the beauty of tight binding’.

‘Women? Well, they are gods. They will always fascinate me. As for rope, I always have it with me. Even when I forget my film, the rope is always in my bag. Since I can’t tie their hearts up, I tie their bodies up instead’

Often citing the erotic nature of his work as outside of the conventions of his conservative culture, the images are pointedly presented alongside 19th Century shunga woodcut prints – the original form of mass produced erotica and part of the Ukiyo-e pictures of the floating world , Japan’s Edo period pleasure quarters – and allusion to the practice’s early conception with delicate floral still life images.