Bringing you the best in global tattoo culture, The Cape Town International Tattoo Convention 2013 – taking place from the 25th to the 27th of January – is currently the most important lifestyle festival of its kind on the African continent. one small seed is giving away three single tickets for the opening night on Friday, 25th January. Read on to find out how to win!

More than 80 renowned tattoo artists representing 15 different countries will be part of the Cape Tattoo Expo 2013. Attendees can look forward to being thrilled by the artistry of big-name international convention ‘regulars’ such as Bob Tyrrell (US), Tom Tattoo (Italy), Laura Juan (Spain), Randy Englehard (Germany), Robert Hernandez (Sp/Pol), Mark Bester (UK), Davee Blows (Hong Kong), Hans Pasztjerik (Holland), Dermadonna (Holland), Patrick McFarlane (Portugal), Gordon Claus (Germany); as well as the very best that South Africa has to offer.

The 2013 festival will be held at the iconic Cape Town City Hall. Event organizers Manuela and Allan Gray are thrilled with the new venue:

We are very excited. The event has grown significantly over the past 5 years and City Hall is the perfect space for the size and vibe of the expo. For the first time we can host all of the related events: the expo, art exhibition and concerts under one roof.

The Cape Tattoo Expo runs from Friday 25th January to Sunday 27th January. Doors open at 16h00 on Friday and at 11h00 on Saturday and Sunday. To book a tattoo session, click HERE and contact the particular artist directly. ‘Walk in’ tattoos will also be welcome, if time and booking schedules allow.

Hans Pasztjeri ‘Stay Classy’ Tattoo

2012 Tattoo Convention

Music

The live music addition to the CapeTattoo Expo includes performances by some of SAs most talented DJs and bands. Your ticket to the expo includes entrance to the shows, which are also held at the Cape City Hall. For the exact playing order, visit our website.

Friday 25th Jan:

Details: Line-up
– Carine
– Sideshow
– Catherine Grenfell (5FM)
– P.H. Fat
– Pure Solid

Click HERE for the rest of the weekend’s line up.

Art

The annual Tattoo Expo art exhibition will open on Tuesday 22 January at the Cape City Hall. Themed Homeward Bound, this year`s exhibition will be celebrating the nautical roots of tattoo art. This multi-media exhibition is comprised of a series of works by celebrated South African tattoo and graphic artists. In addition, the 5th annual Cape Tattoo Expo is also pleased to present Message in a Bottle. This adjunct exhibition features custom designed wine labels from top local and international tattoo artists. The exhibition will also showcase the Levi`s Trucker jacket.

Tattoos used to be a sign of rebellion. A middle finger salute to the rest of the world. Outlaw bikers got tattoos. Sailors on leave in Singapore got tattoos. Lifers in the joint got tattoos. Now, your mother’s got a butterfly on her ankle and your kid’s sporting a tramp stamp. What happened? How did tattoos go from the renegade, readymade, carney cartoons inked as fast as possible to the art form they’ve become today? That transformation is the subject of the new documentary film, TATTOO NATION.

Directed by Erik Schwartz, TATTOO NATION tells how a few incarcerated but very talented Chicano artists changed the world of ink forever. It follows three tattoo pioneers, Charlie Cartwright, Jack Rudy and Freddy Negrete, and shows how a new, fine line style using detail and shading to achieve a remarkable realism revolutionized the world of ink.

2012 Tattoo Convention

Entertainment

Gaming is being introduced to the convention this year to offer attendees an interactive breakaway activity to enjoy between viewing the many talented local and international artists on show and other entertainment. There will be a variety of titles set up to cater for all tastes and ages, which have been supplied by EA SA (FIFA 13), Megarom (Just Dance 4 and Skylanders) and Xbox SA (Halo 4 and Forza Horizon). There will also be Rocksmith available for want-to-be rockstars to try out, with a really special prize for one lucky person. For those afraid of the real guitar, there will be crowd favourite (and its plastic guitar), Guitar Hero to allow you to throw your rock-star poses with. Some of the titles, along with additional prizes, will be up for grabs over the course of the weekend, and on top of that, Kalahari.com has also put up some vouchers for a few lucky winners. Other entertainment at the Cape Tattoo Expo includes a tattoo-themed putt putt course, burlesque dance acts, and more.

Tickets for Cape Tattoo Expo 2013 are available via Tixsa on our website, where you will also find updates about attending artists, concerts, competitions, and info.