Ani blends art, ink and healing in new venture

POLOKWANE – From a young age, Ani Hernández Gutiérrez had a passion for art. With both her mother and grandmother being artists, it came as no surprise when she chose to pursue fine art as a career.

A former learner of Stanford Lake College, Ani recently returned to Limpopo after completing her studies in Stellenbosch.

Now back home, she’s eager to use her skills to promote local artists and offer something unique to her community.

Ani opened a tattoo studio with a twist – she combines her artistic flair with her love for medicine. In addition to being a tattoo artist, she is also qualified in deep tissue and sports massage therapy.

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“Both my parents are in the medical field, and I’ve always been drawn to it too. Tattooing lets me express my creativity, while massage therapy allows me to support people’s physical well-being.”

Her studio is situated on the same premises as her parents’ medical practices, allowing her to safely dispose of medical waste like used needles. She also completed time with ER24, gaining valuable healthcare insight.

When it comes to tattooing, Ani focuses on linework, lettering, fonts, and shading, but she draws the line at face tattoos. She’s noticed that many people seek meaningful change after periods of hardship, and sometimes a new tattoo forms part of their journey to healing.

Ani hopes to build a loyal client base in both tattooing and massage therapy, and she’s passionate about giving back to the local art community. “I want to showcase fine art from provincial artists in my studio to help them gain exposure,” she says. “I want to inspire people to stay true to themselves. Fill your own cup first, then you can pour into others.”