The Potattoo Artist

A potattoo is a tattoo on a potato.

Huge Sillytoe’s transdisciplinary practice extends to being a Professional Potattoo Artist and they offered a free session creating potattoos in the window of AirSpace Gallery on 15th July 2022.

For five hours without pause they tattooed any design requested by the public of Stoke-on-Trent onto the skin of their chosen potatoes.

Stories of the symbolism of the potattoo designs were recounted as dot after dot of ink was pierced in to each tuber’s peel to form a swallow wearing a crown, a brain, a vagina, a celtic cross, a hand throwing an axe, a hedgehog, Mow Cop Castle, and two pigs, amongst other things.

The potattoos were then exhibited in the window until the gallery staff could no longer stand the flies, the stench, and the reminder of the relentless march of time.

Performance produced during The Fool Residency at AirSpace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, UK, July 2022, with support from Arts Council England.

Photos: Glen Stoker.