It’s a world record that would be etched into a Chateauguay, Que., man’s body, and you can see it being done at the Montreal tattoo show. Happening this weekend at Le Grand Quai in Montreal’s Old Port, it’s a convention unlike any other. Tattoos will be inked by experts in real time on all sorts of skin. Three friends from Moncton, N.B., came for personalized souvenirs of their Montreal road trip. “It’s an expression thing. I think they look cool, so I just slap it on my body and make my Grandma a little mad,” joked Emily Mann. “I just think it’s art. It’s an expression thing, for sure. Yeah, a lot of them that I get have a little sentimental meaning,” explained Selena Hawkes, also from Moncton. On Friday, there was a lineup at kiosk 11 where Pierre Martel was inviting everyone to add their signature to his body. “Sign with me, and it’s going to be instantly tattooed right away and you’re going to be part of history,” Martel said. He is aiming to set a new Guinness World Record and needs more than 273 tattooed names on his skin. Tattoo artist Sylvie Trigo has planned a swirl of signatures radiating outwards. The first to sign were Martel’s spouse and daughter. “It’s something we wanted to do for a long time, and the project to grow and grow, and that’s why we’re here,” said Suzanne Lussier. Daughter Maggie Martel added, “I find it’s a big project. I’m very happy for him, and it’s going to be a good experience.” SignMySkin.com has updates, and Martel is averaging 10 tats an hour. He’s hoping to break the record by the end of the show on June 7.
