Russian Prison Tatoos.

October 2, 2003 2:54 PM

Russian Prison Tatoos.
posted by Ljubljana (18 comments total)

Interesting. However, some NSFW.
posted by mygoditsbob at 3:02 PM on October 2, 2003

Great find. Thanks.
posted by dobbs at 3:11 PM on October 2, 2003

Fascinating, and beautifully presented.

The head of a tomcat is considered to bring good luck to a thief.

Someone needs to warn thomcatspike about this...
posted by taz at 3:33 PM on October 2, 2003

Interesting, disturbing, great design. Those eyes on the pelvic bones are something.
posted by lobakgo at 3:43 PM on October 2, 2003

The Cyrillic script on that one guy's inner arm is really quite impressive.

I'm surprised I could still read some of it out after so many years of not having used my High School Russian skills...
posted by bemmett at 4:12 PM on October 2, 2003

[This is Good]

I love the simple design and usability. I would, however, like more explaination on where these photos came from. Very interesting.
posted by elwoodwiles at 4:18 PM on October 2, 2003

Awesome link. I wonder if there are any similar sites out there for prison tattoos from other countries/regions? A quick google check didn't turn up much that I saw. *sigh*
posted by atom128 at 4:20 PM on October 2, 2003

The phrase "My mother taught me to steal in the industrial zones" is quite popular.

Why?
posted by stbalbach at 6:16 PM on October 2, 2003

...think I'll do some shoplifting at Moscow duty-free sometime..
posted by marvin at 6:23 PM on October 2, 2003

More on Russian tattoos here (self-link).
posted by languagehat at 7:23 PM on October 2, 2003

Nice link, Ljubljana. Certainly not as nice as the link you posted, but this feature on Texas prison tattoos is rather interesting.


Tattoo
by The Who
Me and my brother
were talking to each other
about what makes a man
a man
Is it brain or brawn
or the month you were born
we just couldn't understand.

Our old man didn't like our appearance
he said that only women wear long hair

So me and my brother
borrowed money from mother
we knew what we had to do
we went downstairs past the barbar and gymnasium
and got our arms tattooed.

Welcome to my life tattoo!
I'm a man now thanks to you!
I expect I'll regret you
but the skin graft man won't get you
You'll be there when I die.......
Tattoo

My dad beat me
'cause mine said mother But my mother naturally liked it
and beat my brother
'Cause his tattoo was of a lady in the nude
And my mother thought that was extremely rude

Welcome to my life, tattoo
We've a long time together, me and you
I expect I'll regret you
But the skin graft man won't get you
You'll be there when I die.....
tattoo

Now I'm older, I'm tattooed all over
My wife is tattooed, too
A rooty-toot-toot, rooty-tooty-tooty-toot
Rooty-toodle-toodle tattoo too to you
posted by madamjujujive at 7:28 PM on October 2, 2003

Nice link, Ljubljana. Here's to many more.
posted by hama7 at 7:46 PM on October 2, 2003

stbalbach: The phrase "My mother taught me to steal in the industrial zones" is quite popular.
Why?

The term "mother" may refer to the Russian motherland.
posted by ruelle at 4:51 AM on October 3, 2003

creepy.
posted by crunchland at 5:27 AM on October 3, 2003

thank you for this link. next time I'm locked up in Russia, and need to identify my comrade's tattoos, I'll have you to thank.
posted by chaz at 6:16 AM on October 3, 2003

In the words of my tattooed barber Bebe, "Son, a tattoo is just another way for the police to identify you."
posted by uftheory at 7:01 AM on October 3, 2003

crunchland: not as creepy as being stuck in a Russian prison, I'd warrant.
posted by walrus at 7:12 AM on October 3, 2003

Cool, nice link, thanks.
posted by patrickje at 12:13 PM on October 3, 2003