EP 53: Gandalf

Gandalf discusses their unique approach to rope, exploring themes of memory, vulnerability, and connection. They share insights on teaching, the emotional impact of touch, and creating spaces for authenticity and intentionality in rope practice.

Gandalf (they/them) is a shibari artist and educator based in Shanghai. They are the founder and organiser of Embodied Flow and the conductor of a local Playback Theatre group. Formerly a cognitive scientist, Gandalf is interested in exploring various forms of embodied thinking with rope being their main medium. Over the past three years, they have been teaching rope to a wide variety of demographics across China, aiming to radically diversify shibari and build safer and more conscious rope communities for queer and women. For them, rope teaches us about "being together". Drawing from their background in psychology and experience across various forms of theatre and dance, Gandalf's workshops often consist of equal measures of movement and rope exercises, and participants are invited to explore a variety of topics from consent, safety, tension, to wild journeys into the philosophy of meaning making, vulnerability, and care. Gandalf has also started the "Kinbaku Theatre" initiative, where they hope to further expand the potential of shibari performances through stage productions. Their writings and talks are featured on Contemporary Queer Chinese Art, DOMUS China, TEDx etc.

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