Artgasm turns the female orgasm into a literal work of art

The female orgasm can be elusive, but at CES 2018, sexual health startup Lioness managed to capture and immortalize them as works of art. It's based on information gleaned from volunteers who have used its $229 bio-sensing vibrator that started shipping in August. The mini exhibit is here in Las Vegas to drum up awareness for both the Lioness brand and women's sexual health issues, particularly how we orgasm. It was shown in a limited preview last year at the Mothership music festival, and Lioness hopes to eventually add more pieces and bring the exhibit to galleries all over the country.

The Lioness vibrator has force sensors on the dildo end, which detects pelvic floor (and wall) contractions. That's one of the best ways to identify orgasms, according to Lioness founder Liz Klinger. There's also a sensor that recognizes when a session starts by measuring body temperature, which tends to rise as people get aroused. Like most rabbit vibrators, the Lioness also has a clitoral vibrator in the middle, which pulses in three adjustable speeds. The device also houses an accelerometer and gyroscope to track its motion.

This data is usually displayed in the free Lioness app on a chart, showing waves cresting and falling as the pelvic floor moves. But for this exhibit, Klinger, who has a background in art and visualization, found a way to animate a climax. The three pieces here depict different women who orgasm in different ways -- whether it's someone who builds slowly and then has an intense release, or a person who climaxes quickly but not as deeply.

Each piece in Artgasm shows the pelvic floor contractions, represented by a circle in the middle that expands and contracts. The dots in the background represent the vibration intensity -- the more dots there are the stronger the vibration, while the rings surrounding the inner circle show how the vibrator itself is moving. When the person is climaxing, the background flashes different colors.

It's easy to dismiss Artgasm as crass or unnecessary, but the individual art pieces offer a way to at least attempt to talk about orgasms in a dignified, mature way. Many women struggle to talk about what they like in the bedroom, and some might not even have the vocabulary to express what exactly turns them on. Lioness plans to add the ability for its users to create their own orgasm artwork, so in a few months you may be able to see what it looks like when you orgasm, too. When you can see what's causing a person to respond the way they do, you can better understand how to pleasure yourself or your partner. The world would be a much happier place if more of us knew how to orgasm more consistently.