An Essay in Indulgence and Satisfaction
My bullet journal contains art. And, it is art. Yes, it contains the minutiae of my life in my attempt to control what I can, but I will not just jot down raw facts and stats on those pages. I have Washi tape, colored pencils, stencils, stickers, several sizes of rulers, and Tombow paintbrush pens. All of these are tools in my journal creations.
In my garage, where I create artworks of resin and stones, I have many raw materials. For resin works, there are molds I have bought, but also silicone I can pour in a shape to make my own resin art forms. I have uncut rocks that I can slice, form, sand, smooth, shape, and polish. I can then set them in pendants, beaded necklaces, or rings. I can create an endless stream of unique objects.
The bullet journal page, the stones, the resin molds; all of these take on a new life as I shape them by my whim. They are all art.
Take a moment to think of the raw materials of sex. No, really think about what can be used to produce sexual pleasure, experiences, and interactions.
Naturally, you think of the primary sex organs. And maybe you ponder the secondary erogenous zones. You may not have thought of so many different parts of the body not usually associated with sex that are indeed used in sex play. Even so, body parts are just the basic tools in the sex-art collection.
Thinking more expansively, one might imagine all the clothing adorning the sex artists. Lingerie is a given; but certain textures, fabrics, colors, and shapes also add their shades to the mood. Then, there is the rich variety of costumes suggesting fantasies of many active imaginations: Warriors, Princesses, dominatrixes, adventurers all come in their finery to the sex feast.
Artists have also created abundant “toys” to enhance the play of sex artists. Some of these directly stimulate penises, vulvas, anuses, nipples, breasts, and testicles. Others deliver delicious pain, and still others bind a willing participant to bedposts and St. Andrew’s crosses. New tools for doing sex art are created daily.
Sex is an art form. As such, there are myriad tools, palettes, and materials for creating unique experiences.
But that is only the beginning. Sex-art learns much from other art forms— and sex willingly lends inspiration to those art expressions.
Picasso said “sexuality and art are the same thing.” His biographers agree he meant both are ways to satisfy the soul’s passion.
I remember the first sex book I ever looked through: The Joy of Sex. The couple depicted were hippies and seemed to revel in their earthy nature. His beard was unkempt and her pubic hair was wild and careless. They breezed from position to position, and the hand drawings gave me the impression of an art gallery. On every page I felt I could taste their passion.
I taste that in many other works of art. The sensual ballads of Billie Eilish, the vulvic metaphors of Georgia O’Keefe, the phallic depictions carved out of stone in West Africa, the bathhouse designs in Corinth all denote sexual tension. The diaries of Anais Nin, the driving beats of 1000 rock bands, love seats of 19th century Russia, statues of the goddess Cybele, all celebrate elements of love-making.
The drawings of the Kama Sutra show luxuriating participants who use food, ropes, servants, and flexibility as artistic flair to the magical union of the yoni with the lingam. Sex art encompasses every culture and language.
But turn it the other way: Sex imitates art as well. Every time a partner connects through oral sex, they do it differently than anyone else has. All participants in oral sex are artists. Some of this exalted tribe of artists will go down on a partner with speed and accuracy, getting to the end quickly but decisively. In this, they mirror the street artist who does caricatures in charcoal as you wait. But some will take their time, drawing lines and figures on the genitals of their partner with their tongues and fingers. In this, they echo the patience of the Dutch painters who would spend hours perfecting one small detail in their portraits.
In ballet, the most sublime dance is when a ballerina and a danseur match in the pas de deux. This is a dance between the two that often shapes the entire story of the ballet itself. In this, it is the play within the play, the lives within the Life. The Grand Pas de Deux always contains five movements:
- The Entree – an introduction
- The Adagio – a slow series of movements where the male dancer mostly supports the female
- His Solo
- Her solo
- Coda – The conclusion which is the climax.
Notice how much this parallels the sex act between two people. The sex artists start with consuming kisses, hands and tongues exploring, moving around each other’s bodies, tasting each other. Then, they begin in earnest to move toward the erogenous zones. For the most practiced sex artists, this is done slowly with deliberation. After this, each of them may indulge the other with their version of mouth music. Oral artistry is where each may shine and show their knowledge of the intimate anatomy and response. This often leads them to mutual copulation or some variation of joining. From this they reach their Coda, and the ultimate conclusion. Perhaps they both explode in orgasm, or perhaps one of them reaches the height of a final climax.
Then, there are art forms that so intricately combine sexuality that the line has been blurred. One of these is the Japanese practice of Shibari.
Shibari is an art form that focuses on creating beauty through the use of ropes and the human form. The ties themselves are considered works of art, with emphasis on intricate patterns and balance. Safe and enjoyable Shibari practice requires a deep level of trust and communication between the person tying (rigger) and the person being tied (model, rope bunny). Both parties must be comfortable and consenting throughout the process. Though there is rarely any sexual penetration, the forms and ties are deeply erotic and sensual.
It’s important to note that Shibari can also be incorporated into BDSM practices, where the focus might be more on erotic themes of dominance and submission. However, the core philosophy of Shibari emphasizes aesthetics, communication, and a respectful exploration of vulnerability, art, and connection.
But in the end, it is sex-art.
Here is what I’m saying: Art is passion. Passion is creativity. Creativity is the ultimate discovery.
And all is sexual.