He doesn’t just tattoo—he questions, listens, redraws, and sometimes, says no.
There’s something deliberate about the way Shivam Sharma speaks— calm, precise, and quietly intense, like his tattoos. At 23, he launched Studio 23, now famously known as Concept Kranti, with one clear idea: tattoos should start with thought, not trend. In an age of Pinterest tattoos and aesthetic filters, Shivam refuses to ink on impulse. Instead, he listens, challenges, and transforms your story into skin-worthy permanence.
His studio in Greater Mohali is not just a creative space—it’s a shrine of skin stories. We caught up with him to talk about revolution, scars, anime, and why you should never, ever use coconut oil on a fresh tattoo.
Q: Shivam, your concept is called “Kranti”—what does that name mean to you?
Shivam: Kranti means revolution. Not just political— but deeply personal. I see tattoos as tiny revolutions on your skin. People assume rebellion, but I’m more interested in debate—vivaad. I always ask: “Convince me why you need this tattoo.” And 100% of the time, clients dig deeper and find the real reason. That’s when we ink it. It feels like I’m reigniting a little inquilab in them.
Q: Let’s go back—what first drew you to tattoos?
Shivam: My first tattoo was in Canada, right after I turned 18. It felt like crossing a line, claiming something. Ironically, I was scared of tattoos as a kid—I thought they were dangerous. But I’d draw fake ones on myself and show them off at swimming class. People noticed. That stayed with me—how body art could change how others see you.
Q: You started Kranti in your own home. What was that like?
Shivam: Very DIY. A small room in my house in Chandigarh—bed on one side, tattoo table on the other. Clients came in through the back door. It was raw, but real. I miss the intimacy of that setup. Now we have a full studio, but those early days taught me everything.
Q: Where does your visual inspiration come from?
Shivam: Comics. I was obsessed. Couldn’t always afford them, so I pirated issues from Russian websites just to keep reading. That bold, dramatic line-work shaped my style. Today, my tattoos are like silent comic panels—loaded, but clean.
Q: Do you draw from historical tattoo traditions?
Shivam: All the time. The Chancay civilization in ancient Peru was doing 0.1 mm precision tattoos with stone tools! Tattoos back then weren’t fashion—they were identity. Same with Ötzi the Iceman. His tattoos are over 5,000 years old. That’s medicine, ritual, and survival, inked into skin. We’ve just… forgotten the meaning.
Q: Have there been emotional moments while working?
Shivam: Too many. One shy girl came to cover marks of violence. I didn’t ask questions. She wanted a mermaid on her thigh. When I finished, she looked at it and said, “I feel pretty for the first time in years.” That…that stayed with me. Tattoos can heal in ways therapy can’t. Another time, a couple asked me to ink two halves of a banyan tree—one on each of them. When they stood side by-side, it formed a whole tree. That was art and poetry at once.
Q: You’re known to be very selective. What do you usually say no to?
Shivam: Portraits—they feel static. And tattoos people find on Instagram. I’ll always redraw them. If someone can’t tell me why they want a design, I won’t do it. Tattoos are permanent. You shouldn’t be paying with regret.
Q: What’s the biggest myth about tattoos you’d love to end?
Shivam: That tattoos cause cancer. They don’t. What causes problems is poor aftercare. People treat fresh tattoos like fashion accessories. But they’re open wounds. No gym, no alcohol, no swimming. I tell people: your tattoo is my baby— you’re adopting it. Raise it well.
Q: What’s your aftercare routine like?
Shivam: We give a printed guide, and I explain everything: no alcohol, no blood donations for 3 months, no workouts for 2 days. Most importantly—no coconut oil! It traps heat and slows healing. Use proper ointments meant for tattoo recovery.
Q: What kind of inks do you use?
Shivam: Only vegan, plant based inks. Animal glycerin based inks don’t sit well on Indian skin—they fade faster and can cause reactions. My inks are imported, ethical, and safe. I tell clients—don’t just ask about the design. Ask about what’s going into your body.
Q: What’s trending among Gen Z right now?
Shivam: Anime. Lots of Naruto, One Piece. Even tribal WWE designs are making a comeback. It’s nostalgia. Comic-style panels too. Personally, I love tribal and geometric work. It holds up well. It ages gracefully.
Q: Do people often come in impulsively? How do you handle that?
Shivam: All the time. Especially with hand, neck, or face tattoos. I stop them and ask, “Do you want this for you, or for your clothes?” Most don’t know. I make them wait a week. If they still want it after that, we talk again.
Q: A tattoo that’s stayed with you?
Shivam: A friend lost his dog, Caesar. He got a tiny tattoo of Caesar’s face. When I finished, he just sat there… and cried. That silence said everything. Tattoos can be sacred. Also, a mama-bhanja duo came in. The uncle had one, and the kid wanted to match. That kind of trust—that’s rare.
Q: What advice would you give to someone getting inked for the first time?
Shivam: Don’t rush. Think about placement. A neck tattoo isn’t just art—it’s a social decision. Talk to your artist. A good tattoo is memory, therapy, identity. Make it count.
Q: Last one—do tattoos make us more… real?
Shivam: They make us visible. We spend so much time hiding parts of ourselves. A tattoo brings it out. Not to shout—but to own. That’s powerful.
To book a consultation with Shivam Sharma, visit Studio 23 – Concept Kranti, Sector 115, Greater Mohali. And remember—come with a story, not a screenshot.
