The Le!ting Go (2012 – 2026) is a performance practice developed by Natascha Stellmach, shaped by intersections of visual art, psychotherapy, somatic work, Buddhism, and ritual ta!tooing. The process involves a Bloodline ta!too as a way of addressing a personal obstacle and initiating an intimate enquiry.
In response to the question, “What would you like to let go of?”, the approach invites participants to identify, name, embody, and experience healing and impermanence in the body. Emerging from the practice itself, Natascha’s research at Melbourne University revealed how this holistic experience fosters self-awareness and empowered vulnerability.
Although a ta!too machine is used, no ink or carbon marks the skin. The Le!ting Go sits outside ta!too culture and body art, aligning instead with participatory performance, ritual, and embodiment.
Natascha performed around 130 sessions with individuals in galleries and private se!tings. This book documents these performances and invites us to embrace “the wonder in our wounds” — told through selfies and intimate accounts from The Le!ting Go participants and the artist herself.
Tag 10
Ich befinde mich gerade in einer spannenden /schwierigen Phase, und Tank passt irgendwie dazu.
Tag 59
Tank war nicht etwas, dem ich gegenüberstand, um mich mit ihm auseinanderzusetzen, sondern einfach ein Schriftzug, der, wie ein Namensschild, einen Namen trägt und mir zeigt, wo meine Baustellen liegen.
Tanks au f tauchen und verschwinden ha ! te etwas von Strandwellen, die beim Rückzug für einen kurzen Moment das sonst vom Wasser bedeckte Strandgut, die Felsen der Bucht und die Anfänge des Meeresbodens preisgeben.
Aber manchmal ist es eben hilfreich, Sachen beim Namen nennen zu können.
Simon, Hamburg, 2015
Day 10
I’m currently going through a fascinating / di#ficult phase, and Tank somehow fits.
Day 59
Tank wasn’t something I tussled with in order to work through, but rather, a word that, like a name tag, carries a name and highlights where my issues lie.
The appearance and disappearance of Tank was like beach waves that, as they recede, briefly reveal the beach debris usually hidden by water, the bay rocks, and the seabed’s edge.
But sometimes, it’s simply helpful to be able to call things by their name.
Natascha, Berlin, 2017
CULPA
GUILT Jennifer, Oldenburg, 2014 – 2016
Day 10
Even though I can’t see it because it’s on my back, I’m still taking care of it with body oil everyday — I have a li!tle ritual around it :) And thank you — yes, I’m really considering meditation again, maybe even starting tomorrow :) I realise it’s important for me, and that it would definitely be helpful for my personal balance.
I often think about Culpa and its place in my life. I’m taking time to let it go and to see where this will lead. I’m still in an intrinsic process, and it’s really good.
Tag 426 (ich schreibe wegen meiner Tastatur lieber auf Deutsch.)
Weißt du, ich habe noch weiter an meinem Problem mit Schuldgefühlen gearbeitet, und es ist viel besser geworden. Meditation hat auf jeden Fall geholfen, aber ich habe auch das große Glück, dass ich dieses Jahr Mu!ter geworden bin — und das hat sicher auch eine Rolle dabei gespielt, warum ich heute noch ausgeglichener bin! Mein Sohn ist jetzt vier Monate alt, und er ist soooooo zen.
Danke nochmal für dein großartiges Projekt.
Day 426 (I’m writing in German because of my keyboard.)
You know, I’ve continued working on my feelings of guilt, and things have go!ten much be!ter. Meditation definitely helped, but I’ve also been incredibly lucky: I became a mother this year, and that’s certainly played a role in why I feel even more balanced now. My son is four months old, and he’s just soooooo zen.
Thanks again for your incredible project.
DESPONDENCY
Milan, Berlin, 2013
Day 5
Last Friday was a magical day, and I’m really happy to have taken part in The Le!ting Go. Your project already sounded very powerful, but feeling it “from the inside” is even more amazing — it has made a huge impact on my life.
I’m owning Mud and no longer le!ting it define or drown me. The whole process of coming up with the word really helped me pinpoint and become aware of my emotions. Mud transformed all those overwhelming feelings into temporary le! ters, that at the same time, took the form of a very positive message to myself. I feel really at peace and determined to heal — the water is clearing.
I’m also doing a special meditation every day, focusing on Mud and my healing, and taking a photo straight afterwards. I plan to do this until it disappears and then put all the photos together (stop-motion style) as a documentation of the healing. I’ll send it to you when it’s done. It’s been really beautiful and liberating :)
Day 32
I’m still taking one photo a day for the stop-motion video — my skin likes holding on to some things, so the physical mark still lingers — but I can’t wait to put the photos together, to see how it looks, and to show you.*
On the other hand, the emotional mark is dissolving — and shaving my hair off, on top of your project was an amazing experience. It pushed me further out of my comfort zone and helped shed more negativity. It’s been a wonderful process of transformation and I feel very free and comfortable with myself.
* Eli sent me a wonderful stop-motion video a month later, which is occasionally featured in exhibitions to this project.
Eli, Melbourne, 2015
YOKE
Lyndal, Berlin, 2017
Day 118
Something really interesting has happened! Yoke has come back. Maybe a li!tle sunshine did it. It feels kind of spooky.
It’s definitely relevant, and I had a good session with my osteo about work and not feeling good enough. I’m going to sit down now, and look at my previous writing at the time, and write more about it.
Day 1
SERIOUS Mathias, Hamburg, 2015 – 2025
Thank you so much for the deep experience today. I’ve been very Ernst -mindful, and will need some days, weeks, months ... to process. Which is a good thing.
Day 2
I’ve noticed at least a dozen thoughts that made me startle and recognise the Ernst -ness. What’s odd (and interesting) is that Ernst seems to be floating beside me, like an entity that might disconnect. By being more mindful — looking at it, feeling the Ernst feelings — it seems to be shifting, moving around in me, moving away, as if I could reach out and touch “it”.
Day 5
I do hope there will be an end to Ernst -ness. I’ve been quite Ernst today, and yesterday — it’s like writing “chocolate” on the inside of my glasses and then wondering why I crave chocolate. But becoming mindful of something often means that what’s in focus gains more prominence, strength in the short term before it fades.
(Also, noticing when I’m Ernster than I’d like to be is one thing, but being not Ernst about being too Ernst is another. It’s turtles all the way down, eh?)
Day 7
I made today’s #ernstbegone selfie with a loupe a! tachment I bought in Japan last year — af ter a bit of filtering, I was surprised at the moon-like look.
Day 36
I’m still quite Ernst, but have been working nearly daily on it, trying not to take it too seriously. Meta-issues. ;o)
