Tension & Trust
– A Shibari Journal –

Interviews, Art, Practice, and Essays from the Shibari Studio Berlin

From the studio floor in Berlin-Mitte, Tension & Trust explores Shibari as a contemporary art form and embodied practice. The journal brings together personal reflections, behind-the-scenes insights from photo shoots and workshops, and visual narratives rooted in fine art photography and film. It functions as a living archive of experiences, aesthetics, and ideas emerging from the Shibari Studio Berlin.

Alongside the work of artist and founder Dan Carabas, the journal features interviews and portraits of riggers, models, educators, and artists who shape today’s international Shibari and Kinbaku scene — from Berlin and across the global rope community.

Tension & Trust is written for those drawn to rope in all its forms: from quietly curious beginners to experienced practitioners and professionals. The journal approaches Shibari as art, as a language of touch, and as a relational practice, inviting readers to explore presence, intimacy, and connection through rope.


Inside the mind of rope artist Frank – Male Shibari.
Dan Carabas Dan Carabas

Inside the mind of rope artist Frank – Male Shibari.

In this conversation with Frank, known as Male Shibari, we explore more than two decades of dedication to the art of Kinbaku and Shibari. From the first moment he encountered the powerful imagery of Nobuyoshi Araki to developing his own photographic and tying language inspired by Caravaggio and Rembrandt, Frank shares what drives his work, how rope becomes an emotional dialogue, and why Shibari is never just about aesthetics.

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Why I Created Tantric-Shibari Workshops for Intimate Partners
Dan Carabas Dan Carabas

Why I Created Tantric-Shibari Workshops for Intimate Partners

How ropes, tantra, and intentional space became my favourite way to guide couples into deeper intimacy.

Tantric-Shibari workshops did not start as a “concept” on paper. They grew naturally out of my own rope journey and from watching what people actually need…

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Vulnerability: The Heart of the Shibari Experience
Dan Carabas Dan Carabas

Vulnerability: The Heart of the Shibari Experience

Vulnerability isn’t weakness here, it’s the doorway to depth.
While vulnerability can feel intimidating, in a safe and respectful setting, it often becomes one of the most transformational aspects of the practice.

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