BOOK:Kinbaku-bi, anyone?, Taschen Publications

Meaning literally, “the beauty of tight binding”, Kinbaku-bi, the Japanese art of erotic bondage has long fascinated Nobuyoshi Araki, who has made it one of his most important subjects. He’s been called a genius and a poet, and also a misogynist, a pornographer, a monster, but Araki’s work transcends simplistic moralistic classifications, he has said of his work, “There is no conclusion. It’s completely open. It doesn’t go anywhere”. Whether literally or fi guratively, his bound subjects are certainly immobilized, yet in the most tantalizing ways. The 600 pagesbook “Kinbaku-bi, anyone?” by Taschen Publications comes in two Editions, limited to 995 copies, each numbered and signed by Nobuyoshi Araki. It consists of three volumes, enticingly hand-bound in the Japanese tradition and packaged in a wooden box, featuring Araki’s selection of his favorite bondage photos from overhis entire career. Art Edition No. 1–150, is limited to three editions of 50 numbered copies, Japanese binding, each with a color photograph, signed by Nobuyoshi Araki, the print size is 24 x 29 cm: € 2,500, and a Collector’s Edition No. 151–995, limited to 845 numbered copies signed by Nobuyoshi Araki € 750.-Dimitris Lempesis