Mother.Monster.Stitch Tattoo activation invitation

Mother.Monster.Stitch – Tattoo activation

Invitations

It gives me great pleasure to invite you to an one-night only in-gallery tattoo activation!

Tattoo activation invitation

Note from the gallery: “Tattooing extends the exhibition’s exploration of skin as a site of memory, repair, and endurance. Hannalie Taute’s stitched rubber works already operate in the visual language of the body: marking, binding, and holding together. This activation allows that language to migrate from object to skin.  The tattoo is not merchandise; it is a voluntary act of identification. It’s a choice to carry the work beyond the gallery and into lived experience.

Important information:

7 May 2026 from 17:00 – 20:00 At 223 Jan Smuts Creative Hub, Rosebank, Johannesburg

Curated flash designs for an embodied extension art with Be Kind Tattooing.

Tattoos range from R850 – R2000 depending on the design and colour. 

Bookings are essential – limited slots available. Please book before 4 May via this link: https://223jansmuts.com/in-gallery-tattoo-activation/

This activation forms part of the 223 First Thursday programme.

Let me introduce you to the tattoo artists and their designs:

Eyre aka theunorthodoxunicorn on Instagram:

I got excited going through Hannalie’s work, trying to find references for what to draw. I wanted to draw everything so choosing was hard.
The way she does all the faces very much aligned with my intuitive sense of art so I immediately felt drawn to her pieces, visually.
I, personally, like playing with different styles of art when it comes to tattooing, but I would say that I enjoy doing bold, striking tattoos the most.
I like incorporating the simplicity of American Traditional styles into my work, whether I decide to add little dots or bright colours.
I believe that art and tattooing are both very much timeless.
We aim to give people something that would last forever, whether it be directly on them or will forever make an impact on them.
We would not be who we are without the people we make the art for.

-Eyre-

Tique aka monstertique_tattoos on Instagram:

As a tattoo artist, I’m drawn to Hannalie Taute’s work because of the way Taute treats material as something vulnerable, and open to transformation. Some could see Hannalies’ use of rubber as a stand in for skin.Pierced and reshaped,this mirrors how I approach the body as both surface and story.
Her hand stitched marks feel like both creative markings and repair, an idea that sits at the heart of tattooing. where marking the skin carries memory and identity.
I am drawn to her work as an artist who finds tattooing and creating art in general as a way to connect with memory,heritage, and the human experience.
Translating Hannalie’s art into tattoo form allows that tension of endurance and transformation to exist directly on the body.

-Tique-

Sarah aka sarahlee.tattoo on Instagram:

I grew up in a small town with artists for parents, and learning to sew was a must. My relationship with thread grew as I dabbled with my own embroidery and sewing projects. My connection to the artform made me immediately drawn to Hannalie’s work. Her use of bold colour and shapes is something I enjoy doing in my own work as an artist who specialises in American Traditional tattooing.
Hannalie’s mixing of mediums is relateable to me, as when I’m not tattooing I work with pottery and ceramics. I love incorporating tattoo imagery into the designs I paint onto ceramics. I see a parallel in the works, we both introduce a centuries old art that isn’t taken as seriously as it should (embroidery and tattooing) into traditionally accepted artworks (photography and pottery).

-Sarah-

Nate aka botanical_nate_tattoo on Instagram:

I was immediately drawn to Hannalie’s use of contrast. Not only her use of colour on a black and white image but mostly the contrast in her imagery. In particular I like the contrast between life and death, placing skulls over young children’s faces. I’ve always found this kind of imagery quite impactful. While life and death is opposite of each other, one cannot exist without the other. I am fascinated with the circle of life, how death and decay creates opportunity for life to grow.
I am always drawn to using heavy contrast in my artwork. In terms of imagery I love to combine skulls and plants or animal life (birds usually). I also enjoy using contrasting line weights, often encapsulating fine line work with bold illustrative lines.
I specialise in illustrative/ black work. I find tattooing people special as often tattoos serve as reminders. Reminders to appreciate something, a lesson learned, times spent with loved ones. I see tattoos as passport stamps in one’s life, reminding you where you came from and where you are headed.

-Nate-

Gosh, so many wonderful designs to choose from! Have fun and feel free to send me and image of your tattoo.

With love, Hannalie xxxx

‘Mother.Monster.Stitch on Afrimaxx

press, Studio news/blog

I am thrilled to let you know that the episode “What our heritage teaches us” on Afrimaxx including the feature where I talk about my exhibition ‘Mother.Monster.Stitch’ is airing this week. You can watch it on The Home Channel, DStv channel 176 and The Home Channel+ on Openview channel 113. 

Airing dates: 23 March – 29 March

Airing times (CAT): Monday – 19:00 (Prime Time)

Repeats:

  • Tues – 07:00 & 15:30
  • Wed – 11:00
  • Thurs – 15:00 & 19:30 (Prime Time)
  • Fri – 03:00 & 22:00
  • Sun: 00:00, 12:30 & 21:00

Features:

  • Ghana: Negros Tou Moria
  • Kenya: Thriving Empire
  • South Africa: Hannalie Taute
  • DRC: Patrick Mhindo
  • Location Feature: Chaminuka Lodge, Zambia

Alternatively, you can watch the full episode on DW’s AFRIMAXX website from this Friday, 27 March (see the link below):

https://www.dw.com/en/what-our-heritage-teaches-us/video-76566552

2026 – Voorspoed!

Art portfolio- my work, Studio news/blog

Mense dink aan ballonne as lig en opgewek.  Maar hulle is eintlik klein houers van drukking.  Net soos ons. Ek het hulle begin naai omdat ek van hulle broosheid gehou het.  Een verkeerde steek en hulle sal bars.

Elkeen het ń emosie geword waarvoor ek nog nie woorde voor gehad het nie: Vrees, irritasie, verveeldheid, hoop, daardie gevoel om opgeblaas te voel. Hulle is snaaks, maar nie skadeloos nie.  

Miskien is dit hoekom ek van ballonne hou.  Hulle gee nie voor om sterk te wees nie.  Hulle hou alles net bymekaar solank as wat hulle kan.

This wife looks happy because she is on her second glass of wine 2025 archival print on board, thread, and rubber (framed)

Haar gesig het in ń skedel verander – maar nie ń vreesaanjaende een nie.  Ek het dit in helder, lekkerny kleure genaai, erens tussen ń suiker skedel en ń partytjie versiering.

Hierdie vrou lyk gelukkig want sy het al ń tweede glasie wyn in.  Ek het die title gebou uit stukkies woorde, soos iets wat jy sou sien in ń leefstyl artikel of hoor by ń braai. 

Dit is snaaks maar ook n bietjie hartseer.  Daardie stil gewoontes waarmee vroue oorlewing en kalmte probeer beheer. Daardaardie tweede glas –  net genoeg om die ‘happy wife’ gelukkig te hou… vir nog ń dag.

Uithou en aanhou! Beste wense vir ń voorspoedige 2026!

Fotos van my werke danksy die gallery Berman Contemporary.

Sometimes the wife needs a break 2025 Archival print on board, thread and rubber

‘Sometimes the wife needs a break’ (Mother.Monster.Stitch)

Art portfolio- my work, portfolio
"Sometimes the wife needs a break"
“Sometimes the wife needs a break” 2025

Ek dink aan hierdie een as haar middagslapie – of miskien haar ontvlugting. Die ou foto het reeds so stil en rustig gevoel; maar ek wou haar nie wakker maak nie. Ek het die masker in stadige groen genaai , soos asem.

Almal se vrouens het ‘n breek nodig, maar wat hulle eintlik bedoel is:  haal asem en gaan net aan. Ek wou eintlik hê sy moes stop.  Net vir ‘n oomblik, sy hoef nie meer enige iets voor te gee nie.

See you in 2026! 😉🙌😅😴👯‍♀️✨

Mother.Monster.Stitch now showing at Berman Contemporary in Cape Town South Africa until 22 February 2026. For more info contact gallery @bermancontemporary.co.za

‘Fees van die Aangenaaides’ (MOTHER.MONSTER.STITCH)

Art portfolio- my work, portfolio
Fees van die aangenaaides. (Archival print on board, textiles, thread and rubber) Photograph of the work courtesy of Berman Contemporary

Hierdie foto het reeds soos ‘n teater stel gelyk – almal glimlag net reg, en staan doodstil. Ek het gewonder, wat as ek dit verander in ‘n partytjie wat dit voorgee om te wees. Die maskers het een vir een gevolg – laggend, skreeuend, te veel tande wat wys.  Die blomme het begin oorneem.  Hulle doen meestal.  Die aangenaaides. Die aangestiktes. Die ongeskiktes.

Ek hou van die idee dat nie almal in die prent behoort nie. Dat ons almal maar net probeer om tred te hou met die opvoering.  Dit is snaaks maar ook ietwat spookagtig. ‘n Familie portret wat uiteindelik erken hoeveel moeite dit vat om gelukkig te lyk.

Beste wense vir ‘n wonderlike fees-seisoen saam met jul aangenaaides 😉

*Photos of my work courtesy of Berman Contemporary