the symbol of power
At the very beginning of my Master's studies at Konstfack, I explored the origins of a ball gag – an item used in BDSM roleplay, designed to control and dominate the wearer. The main focus of these investigations was the shape of this item and the ways of its usage. By experimenting with various materials and adding completely new features, 9 very rough and quick prototypes of ball gags were made.
The ball gag map: from the Middle Ages Scold's Bridle to a dog's muzzle
relations
While redesigning the ball gag, I focused on three different perspectives, which guided me through my explorations. The first perspective is the individual relationship human beings have with themselves. Isolating from the noise, taking a break or simply deciding how much one wants to see or say – these three prototypes tackle all of the above.
woman vs man
The second perspective is a complex relation between a woman and a man. Inspired by the shape of a ball gag, I prepared three jewellery-like prototypes and created a story for each one of them.
The wooden necklace – made of chain and a liquorice branch. Its shape reminds one of a horse bridle and forces the wearer to focus on the flavour of the branch rather than speaking up about their needs or desires.
The ball necklace with hidden earplugs is designed to always be prepared for cutting off the noise coming from their partner's mouth.
The ball box with a wedding ring as a symbol of obedience and belonging to a man. A man who had the power to vote and decide for himself long before you had the power to do the same? Do you have the power to do the same?
quality
The last perspective I followed while redesigning the ball gag is the quality. The shape of the item remained unchanged as the main focus was on adding new features and experimenting with new materials.
The poisonous gag from the outside looks just as innocent as the regular one. It is the pipette inside carrying the poison which makes it much more fun to wear. Choose between three liquids and decide for how long you want to put your victim to sleep – two hours, seven hours, forever...?
The diy gag is made of liquorice jellies, which one can easily purchase in a grocery store. Preparing for a roleplay has never been that easy and accessible!
The edible gag was designed to give its wearer the ability to release themselves without asking for the dominatrix/dominant permission. It is a soft introduction into the roleplay world for those who are struggling with giving up control.
