Kirigami

Kirigami is an Italian rigger based in Milan and in Switzerland’s Canton Ticino. He began performing in February 2011. In the autumn of the same year, he both met Riccardo Wildties, who would become his main source of inspiration; and Tenshiko, who was going to be his partner, both on stage and in life. Kirigami and Tenshiko have performed and taught in different cities in Europe during the last five years. Over time, their style has become more traditional. This evolution led them to consider kinbaku as a cultural activity, rather than a physical one. In practical terms, this meant to abandon easy and fast patterns, in favor of feelings and communication during heavily constrictive semenawa; and to begin studying different aspects of Japanese culture. Besides teaching, performing, and trying to improve their kinbaku, Kirigami and Tenshiko are also active as organizers in Milan, where they give a weekly lesson at School of Rope, run a monthly peer rope called “study group”, and plan many other different events like rope jams, performances, and casual gatherings.