Hyperrealist Surrealism: Interview with Tattoo Artist Ganga

At first it simply looks like a depiction of Dali with his trademark mustache and gleaming eyes exhibiting that twinkle of ecstatic abandon. But once you realize that this image is actually on a large swath of synthetic skin, the incredible uniqueness of this piece sets in...but that's often something one will feel when looking at Ganga's portfolio. 

Ganga, world traveler and tattooer to the stars, spent three months tattooing the expanse of skin to create 'Dali'. An homage to his one of his own personal heroes, the project was also a hope to make a tattoo that lasts longer than a lifetime. In this interview he talks about this new piece and more.

Your newest project is absolutely mind-blowing. Can you talk about the idea and process behind your portrait of Dali? How long did it take?

Thanks!! Well, as you may know, I come from Spain and Dali has always been an inspiration for me and I’ve been thinking through these last months what to do to keep a piece of my art for eternity because tattoos will always disappear with the person who has them once he dies so I decided to do this piece and show the love I have for Dali through it. It took three months of work.

How did you get into tattooing? 

In the beginning I was a graffiti artist, but through watching Miami Ink I started feeling curiosity for tattooing so I saved for my first machine and started practicing. 

Why did you choose to portray Dali? 

Because he’s Spanish, like me, and has been an inspiration all my life.

It seems like traveling is a huge part of your life. Do you have a favorite travel story? 

When I went for the first time to Drakes tour to tattoo one of his closest friends Niko, I stayed with them the rest of the tour traveling and tattooing the whole crew including Drake. It was an amazing experience and I will always be grateful for how everything happened and how they took care of me.

What does success mean to you? What’s the best advice you can give?

For me success is having the time to do what I love most. Works as hard as you can...not for the money but for the love for what you’re doing.

Beyond tattooing, what do you care most about? What do you wish you had more time for?

I wish I had more time to spend with family and friends, hopefully in the near future I can.

Any plans, projects, or collabs coming up that you’d like to share?

Yes!! Now I'm going to collaborate with clothing brands and soon I’m opening my first tattoo academy to give the chance to people who want to learn.