Tattoo convention heads to Cape Town

The South African International Tattoo Convention (SAITC) returns to Cape Town this weekend for its fourth annual show.

Organiser Waldo Del Rocca, who hails from Fish Hoek, said this year visitors can expect to see 110 world-class tattoo artists – 50 local and 60 international – from more than 22 countries across the world.

They have all been chosen as the best in their field and style of work, he said.

Del Rocca, founder of Cape Electric Tattoo in Gardens, and his partner Romy van Tonder host the SAITC annually.

He said initially, the idea came to him when he travelled to America to work there around 2012.

He said he had befriended many international tattoo artists and upon his return to Cape Town, he started hosting travelling guest artists from across the world at his studio.

He said the concept was a hit as Cape Town is a tattoo destination but due to its popularity, it became difficult to manage.

He said he ran the idea of hosting an international tattoo convention by a few suppliers and some international tattoo artists and the rest is history when he and Van Tonder launched the first SAITC in 2017.

He said the event is respected among international and local artists as one of the most highlighted events in the world tattoo convention calendar and the only one of its kind in Africa.

Last weekend, the SAITC was hosted in Johannesburg for the first time.

Del Rocca said the aim of the SAITC is to create a meeting place in the form of a professional environment for the tattoo community to display their art for all to admire.

“The convention represents an enormous amount of artistic talent, within a massive variety of styles of work,” he said.

The SAITC will take place this weekend from Friday, March 31, to Sunday, April 2, at The Lookout at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Doors open at 5pm on Friday and at 11am on Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets are available at Webtickets at https://bit.ly/SAITC2023CT

Among the tattoo artists who will be attending are Austin Maples (San Francisco, USA), Daniele Scafati (Rome, Italy), Squid Yu (Taiwan), Bob Geerts, and (Eindhoven, Netherlands) Del Rocca will not be participating in the convention this year due to his role as organiser.

To get a tattoo you can walk up to an artist on the spot or pre-book a specific artist.

There will also be live bands keeping the crowds entertained such as Fuzigish and many more, coffee roasters, a beer garden, and food trucks.

Visit https://www.southafricantattooconvention.com/artists/ for the Artist Page and full line-up. Passes for each day or the full weekend cost from R235 to R620.

Del Rocca said the SAITC is a family event and everyone is welcome. Children under-12 enter free.