Dan Carabas had his first encounter with Shibari about ten years ago when he relocated his home base from Paris to Berlin. While exploring Berlin’s vibrant underground art scene, he soon discovered Schwelle7, founded by Felix Ruckert – a significant hub for the international Shibari community. Witnessing his first performances, Dan was captivated by their aesthetics. He invited professional riggers into his studio to capture his first Shibari photographs but quickly realised that the true artistic essence lies in the rigger’s deliberate and intentional placement of ropes on the models body.

Motivated by this insight, Dan embarked on his own journey with ropes. Over the past decade, he has participated in numerous workshops and masterclasses led by renowned international Shibari masters. His first teacher was Nicolas Yoroï (A-Nicolas), one of Europe’s most experienced and respected riggers. Nicolas developed Yoroi-ryu after years of studying Shibari in Japan, focusing on minimalist, organic, and movement-based tying techniques.

However, Dan did not confine himself to a single style. Over the years, he drew inspiration from various approaches, most notably from Felix Ruckert, who teaches his so-called contemporary Shibari at IKSK in Berlin. This style combines body, rope, time, and space in unpredictable and creative ways. Additionally, Dan studied with Hajime Kinoko, a globally acclaimed Shibari master and rope artist who elevates bondage into an art form. Dan shares Kinoko’s philosophy of using ropes as a medium for transformation. While Kinoko creates unique installations that transform natural objects such as stones and trees, as well as buildings and spaces, through bondage, Dan focuses on the distortion and transformation of the human body. He uses ropes to shape the body into plaster casts, stating: “The human form, subject to the relentless march of time, becomes a moving metaphor for transience. My artistic practice explores the fleeting nature of beauty, youth, and life itself, using the body as a canvas to contemplate the ephemeral quality of existence.”

For Dan, mastering the ‘art of Shibari’ is a lifelong process of immersion and exploration. Since 2023, he has been attending the international EURIX convention twice a year for an intensive week of exchange and research with other experienced professionals in the field.

Today, Dan combines elements from all the styles he encountered during his learning journey and teaches what he calls ‘the art of Shibari with intention’ at his Shibari Studio Berlin. This focused practice emphasises tying one’s partner in an intimate and sensual manner, fostering and maintaining a deep connection through the ropes.