PHOTOS | A day at the South African International Tattoo Convention in Cape Town

EVENT: The South African International Tattoo Convention (SAITC) 2023.

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. Like a swarm of worker bees flying in and out of their hive.

For the Cape Town leg of the South Africa International Tattoo Convention (SAITC), the hive was The Lookout at the V&A Waterfront with views of both Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean.

After a successful stint in Johannesburg last week, the convention returned to its roots to welcome tattoo artists and fans alike in the Mother City.

This year the SAITC hosted more than 140 artists from 22 countries across the globe, including the USA's Austin Maples, Taiwan's Squid Yu, and Italy's Daniele Scafati. Each chosen as the best in their field and style.

WATCH | I got a tattoo at the SAITC 2023

Tattoo artist Bobeus (@bobeustattoo) gets ready to start on a neck tattoo at the SAITC 2023. (Photo: Herman Eloff/News24)

Artist Nicholas Mudskipper (@nicholasmudskipper) at work at the SAITC 2023. (Photo: Herman Eloff/News24)

Tattoo artist Paige Bates (@paige_bates_tattoos) discusses tattoo options with an attendee at the SAITC 2023. (Photo: Herman Eloff/News24)

Artist Marigold (@marigoldtattoos) at the SAITC 2023. (Photo: Herman Eloff/News24)

The event has expanded over the years since its inception in 2017 and now includes coffee roasters, food trucks, a beer garden, merchandise vendors, and live bands.

Visitors at this year’s event could book a spot ahead of time with their favourite tattooers, or request a tattoo on the spot in what is called a “walk-up” tattoo.

Artist Daniel Feinberg (@danielfeinberg) at the SAITC 2023. (Photo: Herman Eloff/News24)

Artist Carrie Buckley (@carrie_tattoos) at the SAITC 2023. (Photo: Herman Eloff/News24)

WATCH | A day at the SAITC 2023

Artist Jakob Grabner from Vienna (@_jakob_grabner_) at the SAITC 2023. (Photo: Herman Eloff/News24)

Artist Caitlyn Long (@caitlynlong.ct) at the SAITC 2023. (Photo: Herman Eloff/News24)

Artist Squid Yu (@squid_yu) from Taiwan works on a leg tattoo at the SAITC 2023. (Photo: Herman Eloff/News24)

Handpoke tattoo artist Ninja Bread Boy (@ninjabreadboy) at the SAITC 2023. (Photo: Herman Eloff/News24_

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