Tattoo enthusiasts will have a golden opportunity to showcase their body art when the Khayelitsha Tattoo Festival returns to the neighbourhood on Saturday 3 September.
Initially staged in 2018, the festival was forced into hiatus due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic at the start of 2020.
However, with the easing of the lockdown restrictions introduced to curb the spread of the virus, the festival is making a grand return. It will be held at Isibaya, in Harare.
The festival will bring together a number of tattoo artists, organisations and other interested parties in a bid to raise hygienic awareness and safe tattooing practices in the local market.
Sydney Blom (42), founder of 10 Vents, a company that deals with brand activations, said they plan to host the festival annually.
“This festival is an event that we want to see taking place annually. But because of Covid-19 we were unable to host in the past years after launching in 2018,” he said. “With this festival we want to promote the culture of tattoo. And those that want to do tattoos, they should not go outside Khayelitsha while we have artist within our midst”.
Blom admitted though that they have challenges as they do not have a studio currently. However, he said they want to develop tattoo artists.
He said their skills will be displayed during the event.
According to Blom tattoos are produced to “convey” certain messages while they act as symbols to different people. He called on all the aspiring tattoo artists to attend in order to meet the best tattoo artists Cape Town has to offer and get inspired.
“To all the tattoo addicts, this would be the place to be on the night by seeing your favourite ink artists in action. If you want to do a tattoo, on the day that too will take place,” he said.
Blom said for more information like their Facebook page/Khayelitsha Tattoo Festival for regular updates and join the conversations or contact Sydney of 10 Vents on 063 580 0770.
The tattoo event will start from 10:00 till 20:00.
- Tickets are R60 and available at Webtickets.co.za or at any Pick n Pay store.