At the South African International Tattoo Convention 2023, an attendee’s back tattoo by Chris Devil (@chrisdeviltattoos), can be seen through an open-back top. (Photo: Herman Eloff/News24)
If you stood in the middle of the stretched-out white hall and closed your eyes, you’d hear the zooming of more than a hundred tattoo machines buzzing non-stop. As a swarming of worker bees flying into and out of their hive.
Cape Town will be the final leg of the South Africa International Tattoo Convention (SAITC), the hive is The Lookout at the V&A Waterfront with views of both Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean.
After a successful run in Johannesburg last Wednesday, the convention returned home to its roots and welcomed tattoo artists as well as their fans.
The SAITC hosted more than 140 artists this year from 22 countries, including Squid Yu in Taiwan, Austin Maples in the USA, and Daniele Scafati in Italy. Each artist was selected as the best in his or her field.
The event has seen a lot of growth since its inception in 2017. It now features coffee roasters, a food truck, a beer garden, merchandise vendors, and live bands.
Visitors at this year’s event could book a spot ahead of time with their favorite tattooers, or simply request a tattoo on the spot in what is called a “walk-up” tattoo.
The SAITC 2023 continues through 2 April, with gates opening at 11:00
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