Leaving marks on Saif & Salman

For Al Alva, it is the stuff dreams are woven with. As an aspiring artist during the time of his college days in Maharaja Sayaji Rao University (Baroda), Alva always yearned to display his creative talent in front of a global audience. Years down the line, this 25-year-old  tattoo-artist is all set to make his presence felt at the International Tattoo Convention 2005 organised by Jimmy Wong and Marco Leoni, unanimously hailed as two of the best tattoo minds in the world.

“Dreams can come true,” says Alva, perhaps India’s only tattoo-maker invited to such a prestigious event ever. “But then, there are hardly any tattoo parlours in the country. In that sense, it migt not look like a big achievement.” Immediately he proceeds to proudly appraise us of the significance of the convention. “I would say that I am proud of it - it is a personal achievement of sorts because it is  my first brush with a global convention on tattoo-making of such magnitude where nearly 20 countries are participating.”

Alva says that he wants to learn the magical Thailand tattoo art during the convention in a hope that he might effectively use it in India. For Alva though, foreign trips and celebrity clientele aren’t new. While he has done extensive work (besides training under New York-based Paul Booth) in several international cities, closer home, his clients include Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Rampal and Salman Khan amongst others.

“But right now, I am elated about this convention - I am going to put my best foot forward.”

s_ayaz@dnaindia.net