Bikes_changeThe roar of the Harleys and the whir of the tattoo machine made much noise at Ink It — a tattoo convention presented by Bengal Harley-Davidson and powered by t2 — at hyatt regency on Sunday

The roar of the mean machines rent the air even before the HOG (Harley Owners Group) Calcutta men could be sighted on the Hyatt Regency premises. And what an entry it was! Around 15 Harley-Davidson bikes of varied makes and models with the riders in full gear vroomed in, making a jaw-dropping moment for every onlooker!

DESIGNS ON YOU: Tattoo addicts to first-timers — with age no bar — queued up to get inked. From the back to the arms, ankles and waist, the body was a bare canvas for the artist, as names and initials of family members to ancient symbols and images of gods and angels found shape in ink. About the dozen stalls that set up shop in the star hotel’s banquet hall included RJ Tattoos, Calcutta Ink, Rites of Passage, Pain 4 Sale, Duke Tattoos, Harsh Vikram, Sunny Dinda & Daksh Roy, and Sense of Tattoo Art.

TAKING CHARGE: Ritika Gupta shows a tattoo artist the Chinese symbol for hope that she had settled for, as friend Mayank J. Varma, who got his mom’s name inked, looks on. “I already have a tattoo. This is going to be my second. I did not even know the convention was happening today. My dad called and told me I had to get myself down here! I am so excited. I wish we have more such events in the city. The fact that Harley-Davidson is involved makes this so much more charged up and sexy!” said Ritika.

Dustin Wunn (left) and Jeet Kapta, winners of the t2 contest Ink Your Win, bagged an opportunity to get a free tattoo at the convention. “I always wanted a tattoo. So, I SMSed eight times till I was told I had won! I am so kicked. I am also a huge bike freak. I have decided to get myself a Harley tattoo to mark the occasion,” said Dustin, a Class XI student. His buddy Jeet played it safe and inked his own name on his forearm ala Saif Ali Khan!

TWICE NOT SHY: Law student Ayan Kanjilal (in picture) got an old-school tattoo of an angel inked on his upper arm at Anirban Roy Choudhury & Tanmoy Biswas’s stall. “I always wanted to get a tattoo. Two weeks ago, I met this duo and got my first tattoo. Then I was told about this convention and so I came back for another. I am hooked!” he said .

Moment of truth: “I have found it!” exclaimed HOG member Rana Roy Chowdhury, who had no idea what to get as his first tattoo but knew he definitely wanted one. “This is something that’s going to be with me till I die, so I wanted something unique. I love how intricate this piece is. And the best part about this event is that it is niche. Unlike random exhibitions, I met like-minded adventurous people here,” said Rana, flaunting a sketch of Shiva.	ARMS & THE MAN: Niloy Das of Lizard’s Skin Tattoos measures and marks before getting on with the job. “This is a great event for us. Calcutta needed something like this. I wish we could have more such tattoo conventions where people can get this kind of variety under one roof. And the biker angle adds a lot of edge to it!” said Niloy.
MTOO HOT TO HANDLE! Ink It saw Marc Lorenz, GM of Hyatt Regency, in an all-new biker dude avatar as he donned a Harley jacket and shades. “I love bikes. I was really into them since the age of 15, especially when I moved to Australia.... Riding around on a bike was a pleasure. After that, I gave up riding. But seeing this bike I am so tempted!” confessed Marc, adding: “We always try to associate ourselves with events that are beyond the usual. And both Hyatt and Harley are all-out reputed American brands, so what better way to celebrate!” What about a tattoo, Marc? A big ‘NO’ was the answer!	STEPPING UP: “I love bikes and I have been thinking of getting a tattoo, so I could not resist dropping by,” said designer Abhishek Dutta. What was on his mind? “The names of my sons on my arms,” he smiled.