(Left) A model displays some of Lemsentong Longkumer’s body art. (Right) The man at work.
Kohima | April 15 : Body art or tattooing, has been a cultural trend of the Nagas since the early times. In a way of reviving the old tattoo culture, young talented tattoo artist Lemsentong Longkumer today professionally caters to people wishing to have a mark of art on their bodies.
Tattoo may sometimes seem to many as a “gothic” or “anti-Christ” representations in the present Naga society but Lemsentong says “tattoo it is an art, and it is like reviving back our old culture our fore father’s used to have”. The twenty-six year old feels it is also a way to tag one’s identity or memories of someone beloved on the body.
In olden days, tattooing was done with a special ‘tree sap’. Tattoos were made by pricking in the sap and the “needle” into the skin with patterns to impress upon different cultural identity and also to prevent various skin ailments.
Nowadays’ local youths normally make tattoos on their own usually with the help of needle pins and acrylic colors or fabric paints.
Lemsentong however says that random unprofessional tattooing is not simple and safe. “Acrylic colors (or) fabric paints have chemicals that can infect the skin in many ways; use of random needles and exchange among friends may spread infections, including HIV/AIDS” he said.
For professional tattooing, he uses ‘tattoo ink’, specially designed for body art which is made from natural vegetable extracts and is chemical free; also, for every customer, new needles are used. After a degree course in animation at Bangalore, Lemsentong professionally ventured in a career as a tattoo artist.
Apart from body art, he is also skilled in painting, sketching and making portraits. His first tattoo art shop gallery was opened in March last year in Mokokchung, later he opened a similar kind in Kohima, this March, located at the Red Cross Building. “Customers from both genders between the age group of 25 to 35 come for tattoos” he said, adding that most of his customers are army, police and underground cadres. “Some tattoos are random art while many have their names imprinted to let themselves recognized through it” he said.
Similar to many other youths in the state, he said unemployment is another reason which made him to venture out in opening a “tattoo shop” for self-sustenance. Earlier in 2006, his arts were displayed in an art exhibition in Bangalore, Nagaland Hornbill festival in 2003 and also at an art and crafts show in Mokokchung.
Lemsentong also has experience working as a cartoonist and graphic-sketching for the Bangalore-based children comics, “Cotom Comics”.
At present, he offers classes on sketching and is also conducting research on Naga traditional body art. His art commonly has a blend of modern and Naga touch. He plans to represent the state abroad and to expose Naga traditional art (tattoo) to foreign countries. Getting a professional, safe and fantastic tattoo just starts from Rs.500. Other art works, paintings and or getting a self portrait can also be sought at affordable prices from the man.
Tattoo may sometimes seem to many as a “gothic” or “anti-Christ” representations in the present Naga society but Lemsentong says “tattoo it is an art, and it is like reviving back our old culture our fore father’s used to have”. The twenty-six year old feels it is also a way to tag one’s identity or memories of someone beloved on the body.
In olden days, tattooing was done with a special ‘tree sap’. Tattoos were made by pricking in the sap and the “needle” into the skin with patterns to impress upon different cultural identity and also to prevent various skin ailments.
Nowadays’ local youths normally make tattoos on their own usually with the help of needle pins and acrylic colors or fabric paints.
Lemsentong however says that random unprofessional tattooing is not simple and safe. “Acrylic colors (or) fabric paints have chemicals that can infect the skin in many ways; use of random needles and exchange among friends may spread infections, including HIV/AIDS” he said.
For professional tattooing, he uses ‘tattoo ink’, specially designed for body art which is made from natural vegetable extracts and is chemical free; also, for every customer, new needles are used. After a degree course in animation at Bangalore, Lemsentong professionally ventured in a career as a tattoo artist.
Apart from body art, he is also skilled in painting, sketching and making portraits. His first tattoo art shop gallery was opened in March last year in Mokokchung, later he opened a similar kind in Kohima, this March, located at the Red Cross Building. “Customers from both genders between the age group of 25 to 35 come for tattoos” he said, adding that most of his customers are army, police and underground cadres. “Some tattoos are random art while many have their names imprinted to let themselves recognized through it” he said.
Similar to many other youths in the state, he said unemployment is another reason which made him to venture out in opening a “tattoo shop” for self-sustenance. Earlier in 2006, his arts were displayed in an art exhibition in Bangalore, Nagaland Hornbill festival in 2003 and also at an art and crafts show in Mokokchung.
Lemsentong also has experience working as a cartoonist and graphic-sketching for the Bangalore-based children comics, “Cotom Comics”.
At present, he offers classes on sketching and is also conducting research on Naga traditional body art. His art commonly has a blend of modern and Naga touch. He plans to represent the state abroad and to expose Naga traditional art (tattoo) to foreign countries. Getting a professional, safe and fantastic tattoo just starts from Rs.500. Other art works, paintings and or getting a self portrait can also be sought at affordable prices from the man.