“I wanted something to be eternally with me, something that will never change,” shares 25-years-old Avinanda Mukherjee who got inked recently. In a world where nothing lasts forever, tattoo and body art is tearing apart this notion. From being a ritual and rite of passage in tribal communities, it has now become a fashion statement. Apart from outfits and accessories, getting inked is the ‘new cool’. While a part of the society considers the permanence a taboo, another section, on the contrary, loves to flaunt it!
Today, when everyone wants to be noticed in the crowd, body art is perhaps the best option. With various tattoo parlours and artists coming up, getting voguish with a tattoo has become effortless.
Sai, a tattoo artist from Inkprik Tattoo Studio, opines: “Tattoos speak about memories. It is also the only ornament which cannot be stolen, one can flaunt his passion on skin. Tattoo was born thousands of years ago, but gradually faded. Now we are trying to step in our ancestor’s shoes in an advanced form when it comes to tattoo art.”
A tattoo serves multiple purposes, be it a memoir, a gesture of love or dedication towards someone or something. Shreedhar Rangaraj got a tattoo designed with an ECG line connecting with his parents’ name around his forearm. He says, “It denotes my priority and love towards them.” Every tattoo must tell a story, otherwise its appeal diminishes to just an ornament.
Tattoo artist Girish from Bramha Tattoo Studio says: “A tattoo has to show how your soul and life is connected to it and what positive energy it gives you when you see it or flaunt it.”
Tattoos come in various options and motifs -- Japanese theme, Maori, tribal, portrait, watercolour style, splash art style, or random dot style, realistic art or religious designs. Geometric tattoos too are in.
Breaking these trends, Chandni Gatak, a law student, gifted herself a tattoo on her 18th birthday, with her deceased pet dog’s name engraved on her left wrist. “It is an ode to him. The love and loyalty he showed me can never be replaced.”
Tattoos are getting popularised by celebs too.Be it Saif Ali Khan or Imran Khan, Deepika Padukone or Sonakshi Sinha, they all have been pulling crowds into tattoo studios by setting a trend of wearing their heart on their sleeves quite literally. The younger generation is beguiled by the charm of this exquisite art. “Many find tattoos unattractive or even repulsive, yet, a few others see beauty in them,” observes tattoo artist Darshan.
Whether we love it or hate it, one thing is for sure -- you can simply not ignore it!
