Russian prison tattoos are a dark world unto themselves, which is really only understood by the people within it. From an outsider’s perspective, the aesthetic of these tattoos has always intrigued me. This ink’s symbolism goes so deep into the underworld that it will never fully be understood. Knives, Women, Spider Webs, Guns, Churches, and other Russian icons all mean something different when they are inked into the body of a Russian criminal. I am not glorifying any of their acts of violence, but I enjoy looking at the decorated skin of humans on the fringe! Now check out this episode of MARKED that takes an in-depth look at the underworld of Russian prison tattoo culture.
