Wan Tseng’s latest designs recreate the sensations of ‘touching’, ‘pulsing’ and ‘breathing’
There’s no shortage of sex toys in this world. From hot pink dildos to pulsating pleasure balls, the sex shop industry offers a near-endless range of tools to help you reach your destination.
For Taiwanese artist Wan Tseng, though, there’s still a lot that’s missing. Keen to shift the focus more on the journey rather than the orgasmic end-goal, the RCA graduate has invented a new range of wearable erotic devices – all of which claim to offer a softer, more sensory alternative to the traditional sex toy experience.
Her new range of wearables – titled “Wisp” – include silicon jewellery that’s worn on the arms, wrist, chest and neck. Each piece is equipped with a set of circular pads that stick onto the skin, and recreate the feeling of intermittent pulsations, tender caresses, and gently blowing breath.
“Sex is still an unspoken issue in many areas,” Tseng explains. “Looking at the current sex toy market, many popular brands are designed to feature human genitals and might be vibrating or non-vibrating. Almost all toys are aimed toward reaching orgasm; they are playful and intense. ‘Wisp’ is designed for a new category that focuses on only the arousal stage.”
“I want to create a beautiful and personal experience using sensory stimulation, to encourage women to embrace their natural desires” – Wan Tseng
The artist has worked on four separate jewellery designs for the Wisp line. This includes the ‘Touch’ piece, which uses mini motors and silicone pads to create soft sensations on your skin like “someone is touching you”. Then there’s ‘Whisper’, which changes temperature and blows air like “your lover’s tender caress”. Her ‘Air’ design works similarly, creating auditory stimulation to “evoke the atmosphere of foreplay”. Finally, ‘Pulse’ pieces are worn to track sexual arousal levels, and help users understand more about their body.
According to Tseng, Wisp is aimed primarily at women, who apparently have more interest in “building up” an appropriate sexual atmosphere. “In the UK, sex happens behind closed doors, even though it is really happening all around us,” she says. “The goal of ‘Wisp’ is to shift taboos around feminine sexuality, and make them an everyday topic.”
She adds: “It’s also an education tool for girls to explore their bodies. I want to create a beautiful and personal experience using sensory stimulation, to encourage women to embrace their natural desires. In addition, it will create better communication in future relationships.”