'Masters of skin'

Mention the name Paul Booth and instantaneously dark and macabre images spring to mind - after all it is the essence of this tattoo guru's art work.

So you can imagine my curiosity when I was notified about his Art Fusion Experiment involving an entourage of primary school kids - the two just did not fit together in my mind.

Well, we live in anything but an ideal world and when it comes to the imagination of somebody described as the "King of Rock Tattoos" by Rolling Stone Magazine don't expect any obvious perfect fits.

Underprivileged schools need funding and artists need to express themselves. Nothing more to it.

After arriving at the Art Jamming Studio in Wembley Square and being greeted by a top selection of local and international ink artists, gathered in the light of day with their piercing bolts, flesh stretching hoop-earrings and bewitching body art displayed on every conceivable appendage - I could have been forgiven for thinking I had arrived at a remake of Michael Jackson's Thriller.

But the sight was decidedly fascinating in all its nonjudgmental peculiarity.

After 20 years in the industry, Paul Booth has taken this industry through the depths of darkness as only he can and into the light of mainstream art.

His Art Fusion Experiment has also earned him a global cult following - at his ArtFusion Camps masters of skin art share their fine art skills with their peers on an intimate level. They go through an integral ego-cleansing process where group work is subject to be changed be each individual.

The result: "A newfound unity between the artists and through the chaos many harmonies reveal themselves."

View the gallery here

While his presence is larger than life Booth's disposition comes across as evolved, charming and witty. With all the hours he has to spend working on an individual piece it's good to know that he's mastered the art of skin as well as conversation.

Being his first visit to our Southern shores, thanks to SIX - Southern Ink Xposure's multimedia expression of tattoo culture happening at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 23 to 25 January - he finds Cape Town fascinating simply because it's a "thriving city yet it feels so small". Seems the 'clique-y-ness' of the Cape failed to escape even Paul Booth.

On just his second day he was ready for the Mama Afrika foundation/Art Jamming initiative before him as he took a few minutes to chat to us.

But he'd already had a run-in with a shark, well a group of his friends had decided to take on the adrenalin fuelled adventure - he wasn't so sure about "finding a wetsuit big enough for him and his tattoos."

He definitely finds our crocodiles and ostriches fascinating - who knows they could be the focal point of his next creation.

When it comes to his skin art - creativity is key.

"It's all about artistic freedom," says Booth. If you're considering a piece, he's advice is "trust your artist.

"Do your research, inspect their portfolio vigilantly. Their creativity needs to speak to you and there needs to be consistency - one or two good pieces simply aren't good enough."

Another essential according to Booth is cleanliness and hygiene. "If you arrive and the tools are already set up, you should be concerned. Those needles need to be opened in front of you."

As for Booth's repertoire, don't expect anything trendy or branded. Considering he's adorned the likes of Slayer, the notorious Slipknot and WWE's The Undertaker - logos just aren't his thing.

He has a waiting list of more than two years, which is also how long it took for him to decide to do what he describes as his most outlandish piece, well amongst all the many others. "I wanted the guy to be absolutely sure he knew what he was getting himself in to.

The Piece: The appearance of a hacked off head sown back on with stitches tattooed on to the neck that makes Frankenstein look tame.

So if you're planning to probe this skin culture out of curiosity or to book a good artist, check out the Mama Afrika foundation/Art Jamming canvasses completed by Booth and his team - it will be auctioned on Sunday and the proceeds used to fund underprivileged schools.

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