Sameer Patange: Master of Body Art

You can say my adventurous and experimental nature is what lead me to my next interviewee, Sameer Patange. I met Sameer through a common friend, while I was doing some R&D work on Tattoo Shopping, couple of months back. And we have been good friends ever since.

Tattoos are a very old form of body art and have been practiced from a very long time in India. However previously it was never looked at with a positive outlook and was practiced only by a limited number of people. I remember watching old Hindi flicks, where young kids would get similar tattoos engraved on their arms during the Kumbh Mela. And later on these very tattoos would be responsible for their coming together after a tragic separation.

Plus who can forget one of Amitabh Bachchan's all time dhamaka dialogues from the movie Deewar, where he flashes his tattooed hand and yells, "Jao pahle us admi ka sign lekar aao, jisne mere haath pe yeh likha - Mera baap chor hai".

But those days are gone. Today thanks to positive exposure given by the media and more open attitude adopted by the society, Tattooing is been viewed as a just another well-respected art form.

So on Saturday I met up with Sameer again at his tattoo studio in Bandra (which is in collaboration with famous hair-stylist Hakim Aalim), with the intention of getting some first-hand information about his journey as a tattoo artist, things to consider while tattoo shopping, and the workings of Body Art industry in India.

Here we go....

Please tell us something about your creative background and your venture into the field of Body Art.

I have been an artist all along. I was studying Arts at Rachana Sansad College in Prabhadevi. And use to hang out a lot with my friends. They and I were very much influenced by heavy metal rock, in other words the western culture during those days. Some of my friends had got tattoos done from this gentleman named Dr. Kohiyar. Since I was very good with Art, my friends used to get their tattoos designed by me. And when Dr. Kohiyar saw my work on paper, he was very impressed and offered me a job as his assistant.

The extra pocket money was a good motivation, so I took up the offer and started working with him every Saturday. From there on, it's never been looking back.

What sort of formal training have you taken to improve your Art skills?

The only formal training I received was under the guidance of Dr. Kohiyar. I worked with him for two and a half years. Started with drawing on paper then moved on doing Flash designs and gradually proceeded with working on Skin.

During that time itself I got loads of positive feedback, plus exposure by the media. So never really found the time to think about going overseas. But it is something I do plan to do in the future.

In my opinion, a workshop for 6-8 months would be ideal since it would help you understand the techniques and creations popular outside, which I could very well use here.

Sameer Patange

How supportive have your family and friends been of your choice of profession?

Oh! It was like a big, big rebellious thing. My parents were completely against it. It was a total taboo, especially coming from a conservative Maharashtrian background. So it was a big move from my side and because of that I was even kicked out of my house. So I camped out at my friend's place for couple of months.

But once I could got reviews from the media and was in a way titled as the youngest tattoo artist in the country, my family actually took my work seriously then. Finally they realized my true potential and have been proud of me ever since.

Your advice to the newbies who want to take up tattooing as a full time profession?

I guess the only advice I would like to give to someone thinking of entering this field would be not to completely rely on it as an income generating profession. I have always taken it has a hobby and never completely depended on it. I come from an advertising background and I know I can go back to it when needed.

So it's more of a fad than a profession?

Yeah, you can say that. Agree that this industry is growing by the day but still it's very fashion driven. So therefore it's always best to have a backup and not completely rely on it to make a living.

Tell us about your partnership with Hakim Saalim. How did this come about?

I have known Hakim since ages. He came to me to get a tattoo and since we both belonged to the creative background, we clicked straightaway. Then we bumped into each other during a shoot for a movie. The main star of the movie saw our work and asked us if we would like to open up our own setup. We thought about and took up the project as a challenge. The whole concept was different, plus we had the movie star providing us with the required infrastructure. And that's how we started.

And who is the movie star you are referring to?

It is Mr. Suneil Shetty.

According to you, what led to the shift from traditional tattoos (green ones) to its current form in India?

See, earlier tattooing was a very secluded art form. Mostly sailors, Bandra fair crowd and the convicts were usually seen sporting a tattoo. My teacher Dr. Kohiyar was actually the first man responsible of getting the modern art of tattooing in India. He learnt it while he was studying in London.

His work was seen and appreciated by the upper class, plus during that time we were also exposed to the latest fads and fashion happening around the world through cable networks, example MTV, WWF, etc.

What year are we looking at here?

This is around late 80s and early 90s. So the media at that time helped in making the shift from a taboo art form to a more accepted and appreciated fashion statement.

Do you feel that the exposure given to the Body Art industry by the Page 3 personalities has been a major influence in its acceptance among the masses?

Definitely! In a country like India where fashion is driven by the Page 3 crowd and celebrities, they have surely helped in exposing the Body Art form to the masses. Thanks to them it's no more seen as a taboo.

Actor Sanjay Dutt is one of Sameer's regular clients

Name a couple of famous personalities who carry your art on their body?

Lots of them. To name a few, I have worked on Sanjay Dutt, Urmila Matondkar, Shoiab Akthar and Jimmy Shergil. Plus I have done temporary tattoos for Ajay Devgan and Salman Khan.

Most common body part for tattooing and the least common? What sorts of designs are most favored by the masses?

Well it depends from individual to an individual. Guys mostly prefer their arms and biceps, where as girls like it on their lower back or ankle.

Least common are plenty and I am sure you know what those parts are. But yes, you do have some really adventurous folks out there.

Angles are one of the popular designs among women

Frankly speaking it depends on the tattoo artist what he/she promotes or favors most. It depends on how well they advertise a certain category among their clients. With me, I favor more of tribal and abstract designs. From my point of view, those designs don't mean anything and even down the years they won't mean anything to you, so in a way they will never bother you. But if you get something done today which means a lot to you now but tomorrow you don't believe in it anymore or your mind-set changes, it will always prick you.

What do you think about the Gender Ratio? Men or Women are more adventurous?

Oh! It's definitely the women. Even when I started, I found women to be a lot braver as compared to men. They are more experimental and adventurous and don't mind being advised, where as men at times are very stubborn and refuse to take the artist's suggestions.

What sort inks and needles are used in the Tattoo process?

The inks that I use are from the top-line category. They are mostly fruit and vegetable based and not synthetic or chemical. They have been approved by the FDA of America and other such associations.

And before trying any new product, I always try it on myself and if I think its good, only then I use it on my clients. Today I have made a certain mark for myself, so I can't afford to mess around.

Do you prefer creating your own designs, working on stencils brought in by clients or a collaboration of the two?

I prefer my own work. Yes, I seek inspiration from ready-made designs but I always add my own to it. It's no fun if you just blindly follow other people's ideas and designs.

Plus I try to give something unique and personal which is restricted only to my client, so that way we all are happy and content. After all, this is all that matters at the end of the day.

What price bracket do tattoos usually fall under?

Price factor is like going to a good doctor and going to an okay doctor. A good doctor will charge more, whereas an okay doctor will charge less for the same treatment. Same logic is applied here. I start from Rs. 2500 to Rs. 8000, depending on the work required. But you will find places where the same job will be done for lesser amount, however client satisfaction may not be guaranteed there.

What are your views on the growing number of tattoo parlors in India? Are they really professional or just looking in cashing on the latest trend?

I think it's more of the latter part these days. Since the actual effect of the tattoo is seen only after 2 weeks from the day it's done, many people only realize their mistake later and when it's too late. I have a lot of people coming to get cover-ups done because of the shoddy job done on them. This clearly indicates that there is a lot of bad jobs being done in the market.

I sincerely feel that there needs to be some sort of certification given by the respective authorities in this field. Every day I hear about a new tattoo parlor opening up and a new artist mushrooming. But how many of them are actually good at their job, no one knows and that's why we need some regulations in place. After all we are toying with human emotions here.

Genius at work

What are the important points one needs to look at when going for Tattoo shopping for the first time?

Well some of the pointers which I think people should go thru while going out for tattoo shopping are:

1. Invest some time in research. Find out the number of artists that are there in the market and do a complete background check on them. Find out about their work in the market and their reputation.
2. Go and check out the actual place where the tattoo artist operates. Check out the environment and they working style, see how hygienic the place and the equipment used is.
3. Don't be afraid to ask questions. You have to feel mentally good about the artist and his previous work in order to let him work on you.
4. Lastly, think hard about what design you would like to go in for. This is the main and absolutely the most important bit. Take your time, see what suits your personality and please don't try to make an impulse decision because you might end up regretting it later on.

How important is the hygiene aspect before and after getting a tattoo?

Hygiene is absolutely important before getting a tattoo, while getting a tattoo and after getting a tattoo. All the three aspects are very crucial. You have to see that it is done in a clean manner, it is kept clean after it's done and it's looked after as well. Things like cleaning it well after 3 hours of getting it done, keeping it away from water and dirt as much as possible, and using proper and good anti-septic ointment - all these factors play an important role in the end result of a tattoo.

So one really needs to take good care of it by following simple basic hygiene steps.

Is the pain really excruciating or it's just a myth?

Oh! I believe it's just a false notion among the masses. Honestly, it is not that bad. It's a pain that you gradually get used to; it's slightly painful only for the first 10 minutes. Obviously because your body has never been exposed to something like this and therefore needs some time to get use to it.

Are there any known cases of skin or other allergy infection after getting a tattoo?

I have never heard off or seen any cases of skin allergy due to tattooing. Only once there was this case where the guy's arm had completely swollen up after getting a tattoo, the whole area had become infected. After digging deep into the cause of such reaction it was found that the guy had used an expired anti-septic cream on the tattoo. So it was the cream and not the tattoo that caused the allergy.

What are the different ways one can get rid of an old or undesired tattoo?

Well there are only three ways.

1. Plastic surgery
2. Laser surgery
Cover-up tattoo

The first two are permanent solutions, but they don't guarantee your virgin skin color in the concerned area, so you will land up with a permanent scare.

What advice would you like to give to the ones interested in getting a tattoo?

As I mentioned in my pointers, do a lot of research and think hard about it. It is a life-time commitment and you cannot afford to fool around with it.

And lastly...

Your views on the popular 'Miami Ink' guys?

I think these guys totally rock. The show is very well directed and scripted. They are able to explore the technical as well as the emotional side of Body Art, which makes it an interesting watch for all types of audiences. Overall it's a fun and a damn cool show, with some excellent tattoo showcasing.

At a very young age (he is only 26), Sameer has made a mark for himself in the Indian Body Art scenario. His eased-out attitude and chirpy nature makes it so much easier for his clients to trust him completely with the job at hand. And I say this not from looking at his clients but from personal experience.

But as he repeatedly mentioned, think hard and be 100% sure before you enter a tattoo parlor, after all it has a permanent impact on your life.

I would like to end this session with an old saying (which I had read in some weird book), "There are two types of people; one with tattoos and the others who are afraid of the ones with tattoos".

So tell me, which type are you?

Special Thanks to Akshay (Trivial Matters) for helping out with the photographs.