THE LETTING GO | BOOK & EXHIBITION

Natascha Stellmach, Book Cover Sleeve detail.
THE LETTING GO
352 p.
24 x 16,5cm.
English (& some German).
Texts by: Sandra Hüller, Dr Matthew McArdle, Kelly Gelatly, Natascha Stellmach & participants.
Published June 2026 by Kettler.

What would you like to let go of?

The Letting Go (2012–2026) is an intimate performance practice by Natascha Stellmach, shaped by the intersection of visual art, psychotherapy, embodied research, and Buddhism. At its core is a Bloodline tattoo—performed without ink—through which participants engage the question: “What would you like to let go of?”

This book gathers, for the first time, 130 previously unpublished encounters—shared through participant-contributed selfies, reflections, and the artist’s own account. Interwoven with evocative photography and essays, The Letting Go traces a practice that defies categorisation.

Alongside Stellmach’s own research and texts by Sandra Hüller, Kelly Gellatly and Dr Matthew McArdle, it offers a deeply personal portrait of what it means to move through challenges with vulnerability and courage.

An invitation to embrace “the wonder in our wounds”, The Letting Go speaks to those drawn to art as encounter, ritual as knowledge, and the fragile, enduring work of being human.

This comprehensive publication will resonate with lovers of performance art, ritual practices, embodied enquiry, contemporary photography, and those engaged in conversations around mental health and wellbeing.

BUY THE BOOK

1. LIMITED EDITION : Au$ 450
US$ 337 // € 290

Limited Edition Artist Book (Edition of 55) + Extras

* A signed, numbered, limited edition artist book, THE LETTING GO. * One Archival Print, signed, Edition 55: “Self Portrait 2014” (“Yesterday” is a Letting Go that I performed on myself). A5 = 21 x 14.8cm. * One “Wunder Badge” created by me (see images below). Includes shipping to wherever you are! Price is in Au$ (all other currencies may fluctuate).

A$450.00

Mockup of THE LETTING GO Limited Edition (note: the real cover is featured above) with Self Portrait 2014 archival print (Edition 55) & Wunder Badge.

2. REGULAR EDITION + Wunder Badge : Au$ 120
US$ 86 // € 74

Regular Edition Book (Edition of 845) + shipping

THE LETTING GO Book + Wunder Badge Includes shipping to wherever you are! Price is in Au$ (other currencies may fluctuate).

A$120.00

3. WUNDER Badge : Au$ 40
US$ 29 // € 25

GIFT A FRIEND SOME WUNDER!

WUNDER means WONDER in German and contains the word for wound (Wunde). WOUND + R = WONDER. I created this embroidered badge for you to sew on anything, in any way you choose. In this 6 x 9.5cm badge I’ve highlighted the “R” to remind us to see the “wonder in our wounds”. Shipping included to wherever you are! Price is in Au$ (all other currencies may fluctuate).

A$40.00

Three Supporters show how they’ll wear their WUNDER.

2026 BOOK LAUNCHES + EXHIBITION

  • BASEL –– June 14 – 20 at I Never Read, Art Book Fair with the publisher Verlag Kettler.
  • BERLIN –– Friday July 10 at Silent Green Kulturquartier (19:00 – 21:00).
  • MELBOURNE –– August 20 – November 8 at Linden New Art (Opening: Saturday August 22, 2 – 6pm).

WHAT IS THE LETTING GO?
thelettinggo.net

Thank you! Danke!

Sincere thanks to Creative Victoria, Creative Australia MATCH Lab, Goethe-Institut and all who contributed to the 2025–2026 crowdfunding campaign—your generous support has made it possible to begin work on both the book and the exhibition.

While we’ve reached a major milestone, the funding journey isn’t over.
Book pre-sales remain an essential part of getting this project across the line.