KIMI2.0 Shared-Spine Empathy-Building Wearable

We invite you to wear KIMI with a partner or stranger....

a shared spine for emotional bondage ; a remedial therapy for divisive behavior

KIMI is a woven sharedspine device that initiates dialogue around the intimacies of the human body. What are the delineations between self and other? Between body and space? What grows out of a temporarily conjoined human pair? How are your behaviours and emotions modified by this act of symbiotic choreography? “

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KIMI2.0

“ With a world becoming increasingly hostile and d i v i d e d, we find it imperative as designers to come up with solutions that bring bodies closer together...

Pirilti Onukar

what is KIMI?

Harrison Pickering

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!&!

how do I make KIMI? OPEN`SOURCE`DESIGN

MATERIALS

ESSENTIAL KNOTS

~80 - 100m nylon rope (5mm), scissors, lighter, (x2) climbing-grade carabiners, ~25m shock cord (34mm), (x8) shock cord hooks, (x8) neoprene training straps

barnacle loop tutorial: http://bit. ly/2fmJ1XK cross knot tutorial: http://bit. ly/2fkxll7

TENDON-STRINGS tendon-strings are the shock cord that connects each of the partners wrists and legs. This provides tension and asks each half to move in unison, mindful of the other half’s desires. It is a connection of the limbs, while the main body connects the torsos. (x4) tendon strings (shock cord + hooks)

The tendon strings (shock cord) go through A loops before attaching to wrists and legs. The cross-body straps go through B loops, secured to the main body with the carabiners. Now assemble it all and go play !! (x4) thigh straps

(x4) wrist straps

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MAIN BODY ARCHITECTURE A 7

A

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B

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7

9

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11

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B

C

A

9 11

D A

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B 14

B

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A

A = 11 barnacles, B = 14 barnacles, C = thorax (see diagram for barnacle count), D = abdomen (see diagram for barnacle count), ‘+’ = cross knot *tip* when attaching one loop to another (e.g. A+B or AB+C) always weave the loose ends of the first loop into the inside of the second loop

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CROSS-BODY STRAPS

you will need two body-straps for each device you want to make. learn how to make a cross-knot paracord lanyard here: http://bit.ly/2gxBpTO ......then attach a climbing-grade carabiner

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how do I interact with KIMI?

KIMI is an experimental mediator. You may try any and all moves that you and your partner can imagine. The point is to push the boundaries of what is ‘your’ body and what is ‘my’ body ! so experiment, and imagine, and recombine until moving in this way allows you to question your habits....

If you are having trouble getting started, here are a couple ideas to get the imaginative juices flowing : Bodily Reflections: expand your chest, contract your stomach, extend your limbs as far as you can, connect all four of your hands Beginnings | two bodies, two subjectivities: pull away from each other, push against each other, walk in one direction, now the other, move up and down, side to side, try to run, try to squat, can you get up from a seated position? can you get on top of your partner?

Combination | two bodies, combined subjectivity: move towards/away from the earth, invent new ways to play with your shared center of gravity, move towards the sun, move towards water, move closer to the nearest lifeform, Flow | one body, one subjectivity: move as if you are one being, count the number of visible trees in your area, begin pattern forming in your movement, flow without stumbling or stopping, choreograph a dance with other KIMI kin without speaking meditate on your shared body, enjoy your newfound communion

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@rhizobloom @silkensap @huylupalamut