Tjappies Van Die Point is a photographic examination of prison tattooing within South Africa, which analyzes the symbolism behind the permanent etchings, as well as its history and future in a swiftly changing prison environment. The bodies of these prisoners tell vivid tales of violence, isolation, poverty and gangsterism. Diaries of the underworld, forever carved into the skin, for the world to see. The unique aesthetic of these tattoos, done primitively with prohibited tools, are distinctively South African childish in appearance, misspelt and simple, referencing images from local newspapers and comic-strips.
Full series of images consists of 24 portraits along with illustrations and detailed captions.
Exhibited at Johannesburg FNB Art Fair 2015.
