History

WHIPCRAFT originated from personal experience, and the first experiments into constructing the ultimate whip were carried out back in 1986. The first official whip was not, however, presented until November 2003 at the erotic fair Kinky Copenhagen.

The artist behind the designs is sculptor Troels Jespersen, who specializes in wood and is known for using tools and techniques which combine the very best of every type of woodwork. He is renowned for the enthusiasm and burning passion he brings to his work and for his strongly uncompromising spirit. Each work of art must be something special – whether he chops away at a tree-trunk weighing over a ton or delicately fashions the handle of a whip.

It all began in 1985 when Troels first came into contact with the SM scene and joined SMil – the Danish organization for sadomasochists – and for which he later became vice-president. Over the years he has collaborated on art exhibitions, worked in SM counseling, been a member of the SMIL magazine’s editorial board, and as its editor. This involvement in sexual politics also extended to other branches of the media; Troels was a broadcaster on the Copenhagen based Radio Rosa in 1988 and spent several months in London doing research into fetish and SM subcultures. He has also made several television appearances talking about SM and featured in a documentary film about domination. He has also participated in a number of educational films on the subject.

WHIPCRAFT's web site opened 19th March 2005, and the same day an exhibition of whips was shown at a Manifest fetish party at the premises of SMil, Copenhagen. In 2005 and 2006 WHIPCRAFT also exhibited at the German Fetish Fair in Berlin and at the Skin Two Expo in London.

Today WHIPCRAFT works out of a full-facility workshop house, converted from a redundant pump station, located in the harbour close to the Copenhagen city center.