[2021] Chappie Series
My creative process is deeply influenced by the struggles and challenges faced by the communities around me, who are constantly grappling with the integration of criminal culture in South Africa.
I am particularly drawn to the visual language of improvised prison tattoos, or ‘Chappies’, that have become the mainstay of the impenetrable subculture of South African prisons. The name for the prison tattoos originates from an old brand of South African bubblegum, Chappies, and are often done with crudely sharpened guitar strings and burnt rubber . The wrappers contain interesting “did you know” facts. So, the term became associated with prison tattoos because the markings reveal facts about the wearer — crimes committed, number of murders, gang affiliation, etc.
For those in the know, the motifs offer a rare glimpse into the inner workings of ‘The Number’, a South African prison gang with a violently enforced code of silence. Through both explicit and implicit dialogues with individuals and visual encounters, reproducing these memories allow me to explore the ways in which it shapes my perception and experience of home.
As I delve deeper into the world of the Numbers Gang and the Chappie culture, I am struck by the sheer magnitude of the divergence of the mind and the challenge to truly comprehend this elusive subculture. Nonetheless, it is precisely these challenges that inspire me to continue exploring and creating, in an ongoing quest for insight and understanding.
I am particularly drawn to the visual language of improvised prison tattoos, or ‘Chappies’, that have become the mainstay of the impenetrable subculture of South African prisons. The name for the prison tattoos originates from an old brand of South African bubblegum, Chappies, and are often done with crudely sharpened guitar strings and burnt rubber . The wrappers contain interesting “did you know” facts. So, the term became associated with prison tattoos because the markings reveal facts about the wearer — crimes committed, number of murders, gang affiliation, etc.
For those in the know, the motifs offer a rare glimpse into the inner workings of ‘The Number’, a South African prison gang with a violently enforced code of silence. Through both explicit and implicit dialogues with individuals and visual encounters, reproducing these memories allow me to explore the ways in which it shapes my perception and experience of home.
As I delve deeper into the world of the Numbers Gang and the Chappie culture, I am struck by the sheer magnitude of the divergence of the mind and the challenge to truly comprehend this elusive subculture. Nonetheless, it is precisely these challenges that inspire me to continue exploring and creating, in an ongoing quest for insight and understanding.