By Willie Gordon Suting & Heather Cecilia Phanwar
Tattoo as a modern art form has greatly evolved. Its cultural significance, as an urban subculture, has blurred lines of conservativeness. Permanence of a tattoo in the skin speaks more than just making a statement. It is a marker in time, of a memory of loved ones. It also connotes through its varied symbology what the person stands for or is being impacted with.
Tattoos, in this generation, are sported by youths everywhere. Shillong, rising in hip hop and metal subcultures, is hugely influenced by these arts. Tattoo parlours can be seen in the city with their exterior painted in graffiti and tribal art. Raphael Garett Thangkhiew, Wanshuwa ‘Fair’ Mylliemngap, Phibanseng Nongkynrih and Naisha Richmond Tariang are making their mark as tattoists. Through the art, they are able to make a living. And proving to society that tattoing is not a mere pursuit, it is also a profitable profession.
How they started
Raphael Tattoos, established in 2010, is one of the oldest tattoo studios in Shillong. Now shifted to Motinagar, Thangkhiew, speaking how he started, says, “I apprenticed in Delhi for two years with Nikunj Thapa, a prominent tattooist from Siliguri. Freelancing in Shillong was a struggle after that. But when word spread through social media about my shop, I began receiving many clients.”
Fair, who started tattoing when he was in college, says his works available on Facebook had helped people become aware of his shop Hard Knox Tattoos in Laitumkhrah. When he started as co-worker with Thangkhiew, Fair did extensive research online. Connecting with tattooist friends from other cities, he enquired from them on best tattoing equipment.
Nongkynrih moved from Shillong to Kolkata to pursue higher education in multimedia design and animation. In 2010, he instinctively bought a tattoo machine from Calcutta Ink Tattoo Studio. “I started working at Calcutta Ink after buying the machine. Initially, it was a struggle. I was new to it, was taking time to understand things and better my skills. But then Palzor, Tshering Sherpa and Lakpa Lepcha helped me with whatever they knew. After about six months or so, more artists joined the studio, and that opened up a whole new world for me.”
Tariang received training from Phiban Nongkynrih at Sacred Groves Tattoo Studio based in Shillong. She too worked in Kolkata for a while at Calcutta Ink Tattoo Studio. She believes there is more exposure for an artist in a big city where clientele is higher. But she moved back to Shillong and is now working from home.
Expensive equipment and hygiene
Tattoing equipment are very expensive and since no equipment is made in India, they have to be sourced and imported from outside the country. Fair has a supplier from Delhi who sells him machines imported from Germany. The colours are imported from the US.
“Machines come in different prices, and are very expensive. The ones I have are of high quality,” he says. Thangkhiew too orders from Delhi but from Tattoo Empire India and Tattoo Gizmo.
Tattoos can also cause many health problems. If the equipment are not well sterilised, they can cause skin infections. Considering needles penetrating the skin’s layers, it is important that they are disposed of after use. Tariang says hygiene is crucial.
“I make sure that everything required for tattooing is sealed and has been thoroughly cleaned and sterilised. I only tattoo in a controlled environment. I also give the clients a list of dos and don’ts after getting a fresh tattoo. If the surrounding environment is unhygienic or if proper care is not taken during the healing process, chances of an infection are higher,” she says.
Thangkhiew uses thermal stencil papers, autoclave steamer, ultraviolet steriliser and single use needles, gloves, Vaseline, ink cups and tissue papers. These precautions are for health and safety of the client.
Nongkynrih says the most important thing for a tattoo studio is “cleanliness with all proper sterilisation needed, proper gloves once used and thrown even if I take a break in between. All equipment should be covered and wrapped with plastic while tattooing.”
Specialisation & earning
Tattoists have areas of specialisation. This is according to their forte. Nongkynrih believes in achieving bold and clean lines, smooth shading and good colour packing.
“At the end of the day, I like a clean tattoo. I would like to do more on black works and colour works too,” he says.
Thangkhiew specialises in black and grey, oriental, geometrical patterns and dot works. “But I discuss with my clients first regarding design and placement of tattoos. I feel I am able to achieve any design they ask for,” he says.
Thangkhiew adds clients usually go for memorial tattoos like portraits and full names of people who impact their lives.
“Clients really appreciate what we give them for a lifetime, and that sense of gratitude makes it an enjoyable job,” says Nongkynrih.
With every tattooist, one has to seek appointment two weeks ahead. “People come with their concepts and ideas. They think more of how to come up with good designs. But I improvise to make the concept original. As tattoists, we try to be original,” says Fair.
Fair specialises in realistic black and grey and Japanese art. He feels Shillongites mostly prefer Mauri polynesin, roses, feathers, dreamcatchers and wolves. Tariang’s forte is floral tattoos and mandalas or ornamental tattoos.
Nongkynrih — who draws inspiration from international tattoo artistes like Paul Booth, Adrian Lee, Guy Aitchison, Tim Hendricks — does not specialise in portraits “but when they come I usually pass it to someone who does it better because that is not my forte. But I appreciate if clients tell me their concept and I create something original for them”.
On earning, Fair says income differs with seasons because people feel cold during winter.
Thangkhiew’s small tattoos start from Rs 1,500, of which charges are calculated according to inches. Big tattoos can be completed in a day whereas for small tattoos Thangkhiew takes three appointments in a day.
Nongkynrih charges Rs 5,000 an hour in Mumbai and in Shillong he usually goes with the piece. “It all depends on the month. Generally, at least a couple walks in a day, and more rush during weekends. This is a profitable profession, so I would like to think I do well enough,” he says.
Organising tattoo conventions
A tattoo convention is an event where the art of tattoing is celebrated.
Numerous activities like workshops, competitions and exhibitions take place in the convention. Thangkhiew desires the Arts and Culture Department organise a tattoo convention in the city.
“If we invite all tattoists from the North East in such a convention, naturally young freelancers will also be informed about standard market rates for tattoos. Because professionalism when it comes to rates is not there in Shillong,” he says.
Fair believes that competitions for young and established tattoists at conventions will only push the levels of quality. “Also a display of the works of tattoists will make people understand the artistic value of tattoos,” he says.
Nongkynrih emphasises she has attended a few conventions so far. “But this season, and in the near future, I want to travel to many more interesting conventions,” he says.
However, Nongkynrih adds that because Shillong has a Christian majority population, hence it is still apprehensive about tattoos. “But the tattoo culture in Mumbai and Kolkata are real subcultures. Even the aged are accepting of tattoos in the society,” he says.
Though Shillong is home, Nongkynrih admits that as a tattoo artiste, it’s difficult in Shillong because of the prevailing narrow-mindedness. “Whereas, in Mumbai, it’s a great environment for a tattoo artiste… but of course, if I get an opportunity to come back to Shillong, I will have my bags packed.”
Thangkhiew sheds light on the superstition that a person having tattoo cannot donate blood. “People can donate blood after six months of doing the tattoo. It can be done through registering the tattoo in any blood bank,” he says.
Tattoing is a difficult job especially if one has just entered the business. For it requires a lot of perseverance, practice and patience. So Nongkynrih has some advice for the budding artistes. “Work on your drawing and conceptualisation skills, and invest on legit equipment. Both of these habits reap long term benefits for tattooists.”
Fair echoes Nongkynrih, “If you love tattoing, never give up. Commitment is essential as it takes years to perfect.”