Making of …“Capnolagnia”

As part of our imminent exhibition, ‘Melted Paraffin Wax’, (exhibition dates 28 th of February to the 28 th of April inclusive), with its theme of all things wicked, ‘Capnolagnia’ is a particularly apt piece. The title ‘Capnolagnia’ is a term used to describe those individuals who derive sexual pleasure and arousal from watching others smoke. People who experience the following symptoms are considered to have a sexual fetish: sexual interest in watching other people smoking, recurring intense sexual fantasies involving watching other people smoking and recurring intense sexual urges involving smoking or watching other people smoking. [1]

Somewhat ironically, as mainstream society has become more aware of the inherent dangers associated with smoking, the effect has been to heighten the interest in smoking fetishism. The more we recognise that smoking is bad for our health, the truer it becomes that only ‘bad’ men and women smoke, and the more attractive they become for the smoking fetishist. The lure of seeing an attractive man or woman with a cigarette placed between their lips is incredibly enticing to some and staying true to our fascination with all things risqué, we here at island6 decided to explore this particular fetish a little further…

Given Liu Dao’s bent for the old-world glamour and glitz of 1920’s Shanghai, we decided to dress our model, Katrina, in a cloche hat reminiscent of the era, replete with a white halter neck dress and a flapper cigarette holder, for her to place between her lusciously painted red lips.

Below are a series of photos taken before the shoot began:

The girls prepping the set and having a cheeky laugh:

Patiently waiting…

Ooft! so slinky..

The final result was pretty damn steamy and sure to get the hearts and minds racing of those amongst us whose particular vice this is…

‘Capnolagnia’

http://www.island6.org/LiuDao689.html

“I stood at the bar clutching my martini, gazing dreamily into the distance- pondering nothing much at all- quite oblivious to the events that were about to unfold. I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder; I turned round  to meet my inquisitor and inhaled sharply, for a woman of great ethereal beauty stood before me. I was utterly mesmerized; I had never been in the presence of such a caliber of woman before. She extended her languid wrist and cooed in my ear, ‘Follow me’. I silently complied as she guided me into the next room, my body in a state of sheer confoundment. I watched, hypnotized, as she flicked open a pack of Dunhill’s, perched one between her plump, rosy lips, and let the flames linger at the tip. I observed the great thick plumes of smoke that surrounded her, my pulse quickened, and I felt a twinge of shame as I became aware of my heightened arousal at this sight. I felt as if all the blood had rushed from every fiber of my being directly to my groin, I became listless as the euphoria spread its seed.” [ Kim Shillam]

‘Capnolagnia’ is on show at island6 Bund, 17 Fuzhou Rd, Shanghai. It’s part of our latest exhibition ‘Melted Paraffin Wax’, opening the 28 th of February. For more info, click here: http://www.island6.org/MeltedParaffinWax_info.html

See you there!

[1] Aggrawal A. (2009).   Boca Raton: CRC Press.