Body canvas

Tattoo artists forecast new trends for Team Viva at a convention

People flaunting tattoos is no longer a rare sight. While some look at this skin art as a trend that youngsters are attracted to, Chandigarh  based tattoo artist Rishabh feels that it has broken every age and culture barrier and has, in fact, emerged as an independent art form. “There are various styles of tattoos which are popular like realism, blackwork and dotwork. And generalising them does not do justice to the artists.” Kabir Ray, another tattoo artist from Kolkata, feels that tattoos are more traditional than trends. “With the growing popularity for tattoos in India, people are reviving native forms of body art too,” shared he. Both were part of the Heartwork Tattoo Festival, which was held in the city recently.

Tattoos are usually a way of cherishing memories: Getting someone’s portrait or signature has become the ideal way to either remember somebody you have lost or to recall them as their daily inspiration. “A lot of people are interested in getting portraits done in memory of their loved ones. The trend has been towards personalisation rather than customised designs,” shared Rishabh. Ray feels that there is a gradual demand to treasure one’s fond memories through portraits. “Earlier people used to get the names of their loved ones but now they get portraits instead.”

Finger tattoos or miniature tattoo?

Getting a tattoo on the finger is a common request at most studios. “But we always suggest clients that they consider other body parts considering tattoos do not hold in the delicate finger area which is susceptible to a lot of body movement,” said Rishabh. “It’s always better to get something simple, if you are getting it done on the finger. But arms are definitely the most popular when it comes to the placement of the tattoo, since that’s one of the most visible areas of the body.”

Arm or elaborate tattoos: A lot of young people opt for the upper arm or even the forearm as they are not touchy about going all out. “They give us the elements that they can relate to and we, as tattoo artists design them accordingly, keeping the body proportion in mind,” added Ray.

For Rishabh, the most elaborate tattoos he has ever worked on was with the entire back as a canvas. “I did that at the beginning of this year and it took me about three months to finish it. Personally, I enjoy working on Mandala tattoos which are one of the newest and the most popular motifs.”

Reflection of one’s personality: Very few people follow trends as they keep on changing with time. Since tattoos are permanent in nature, people opt for the ones that really define them.

Geometric tattoos: This tattoo trend skips words and phrases entirely. Aesthetically pleasing geometric shapes are often placed to complement the body’s contours and boast a timeless appeal.

Script tattoos: Lettering has always been a popular choice but delicate cursives are a fresh new take. People usually prefer English and Arabic.