Russian criminal tattoos have a complex system of symbols which can be 'read' to give quite detailed information about the wearer. Not only do the symbols carry meaning but the area of the body on which they are placed may be meaningful too. The initiation tattoo of a new gang member is usually placed on the chest and may incorporate a rose. A rose on the chest is also used within the Russian Mafia. Wearing false or unearned tattoos is punishable by death in the criminal underworld.Tattoos done in a Russian prison have a distinct blueish color and usually appear somewhat blurred because of the lack of instruments to draw fine lines. The ink is often created from burning the heel of a shoe and mixing the soot with urine.
Tattoos on the forehead are usually forcibly applied, and designed both to humiliate the bearer and warn others about him or her. They frequently consist of slurs about the bearer's ethnicity, sexual orientation, or perceived collusion with the prison authorities. They can indicate that the bearer is a member of a political group considered offensive by other prisoners (e.g. Vlasovite), or has been convicted of a crime (such as child rape) which is disapproved of by other criminals.
Tattoos that consist of political or anti-authoritarian statements are known as 'grins'. They are often tattooed on the stomach of a vor v zakone, as a means of acquiring status in the criminal community. A Russian criminologist, Yuri Dubyagin, has claimed that, during the Soviet era, there existed 'secret orders' that an anti-government tattoo must be 'destroyed surgically', and that this procedure was usually fatal. Consequently, such tattoos were also sometimes applied forcibly to the back of a violator of the 'thieves' code', as punishment.
Photos presented were shot by Sergueï Vassiliev, one of the most famous russian photographer , between 1989 and 1992 in camps and prisons from 5 russian regions for the making of the Danzig Baldaev book who dedicated his all life to criminals tatoos with a unique collection of more than 3600 tatoo drawings. Baldaev realized a ture ethnolog masterwork while employee in the russian penitentiary system.
Sergueï Vassiliev. Russian Mafia Tattoo
Opening preview - Vernissage: Sergueï Vassiliev. Russian Mafia Tattoo Monday, November 5th from 5.00pm to 10:00pm
ArtMenParis
www.artmenparis.com
64 rue Notre-Dame de Nazareth
75003 Paris
1st stairway to your left, 1st floor, left door.
Metro Strasbourg Saint-Denis or Réaumur-Sébastopol
Contact Olivier Cerri on 06 68 20 19 69, cerri@artmenparis.com
Opening hours: 6.00pm to 11.0pm
About the artist: Sergueï Vassiliev
Born in 1936 in the Tchouvachy republic (Russie, master form the ministry of interior political institute, he is still permanent photographer for the "Vetcherny Tchéliabinsk" (the Tcheliabinsk evening) since more than 30 years. He received numerous awards and prizes in the Press photographers category, received 4 photo "Oscars" by the "World Press Photo" in 1978,1980,1982,1983 in Amsterdam …. He has been rewarded the Goldeneye price in 2003 in Russia and nominated to the title of "Russian federation artist". HIs work has been exposed worldwide in numerous collections and museums. He published over 20 books.
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