studio@nataschastellmach.com www.nataschastellmach.com

THE LETTING GO is a performance practice developed by Aussie-German artist Natascha Stellmach. It is informed by interdisciplinary intersections of visual art, psychotherapy, somatic practices, Buddhism, and ritual tattooing. Its method includes tattooing without ink (a bloodline tattoo) to address a personal obstacle and initiate an intimate enquiry.

Following a meditation and in response to the question, "What would you like to let go of?" the practice includes identifying, naming, embodying, and experiencing healing and impermanence in the body. From 2012 to 2020, Stellmach performed over 120 sessions with individuals in galleries and privately, including herself. For the project the artist studied with Thai monks, learnt to tattoo and completed a Master at Melbourne Uni to investigate her process. Over 120 people participated in THE LETTING GO and this book will honour them. The book also invites us to celebrate "the wonder in our wounds" by sharing intimate accounts from THE LETTING GO participants and the artist.

This Crowdfunding is backed by Creative Australia and MatchLab, so every donation is doubled!

Published by Kettler in English and German and featuring a foreword by Sandra Hüller and essay by Kelly Gellatly, the book catalogues over 100 unpublished stories of vulnerability and empowerment through the artist's photography and performances, participant selfies and feedback, and academic research.

About Natascha Stellmach

Natascha Stellmach is an artist with 30 years across an interdisciplinary practice that examines identity, intimacy and vulnerability. Her work incorporates image, text, and performance and is often informed by her therapeutic background.

Stellmach’s projects play out on the body, as installations, or artist books. Her projects are “generative”: informed by her previous works and developed over time through research, participation, and collaboration. Stellmach’s work is held in international collections, has been exhibited at Documenta Kassel, MACBA Barcelona, MAK Vienna, PICA Perth, ACP Sydney etc., and supported by Creative Australia, The Australia Council, Stiftung Kunstfonds, Arts Victoria, Melbourne University, Sidney Myer Fund, NAVA, Sir Edmund Herring and Goethe Institute, amongst others. Government-supported artist residencies include Künstlerhaus Bethanien Berlin, Cité des Arts Paris, and Goethe Institut/Sana Sanaa Nairobi.

Stellmach’s education includes an MFA (Interdisciplinary Practice) at VCA, Melbourne University, Applied Photography at RMIT Melbourne and a BaAppSc (OT) at Latrobe University. Born in Australia to German immigrants, Stellmach has divided her time between coastal Victoria, Australia and Berlin since 2004.

From 2012—and for almost a decade—Stellmach performed the practice she developed, THE LETTING GO in museums and private art spaces. Since 2003, she has collaborated with Boris Eldagsen as BORIS+NATASCHA.

More information: australianculturalfund.org
Crowdfunding: australianculturalfund.org