Charlotte
Hawkins
Make up Exploration
GANG TATTOOS
Where Gang Tattoos came from
I found this article written in 1993 about prison tattoos and how tattoos became a big part in the gang culture. I found this article very interesting as it explains inmates get tattood in prison. I want to find out further how they get tattoo'd as they would not be able to use a tattoo gun.
It als describes that tattoos is their identification of the individual. I will research further into this specific piece of the article and the different types of gang tattoos and what the resemble, there symbols, and the reasons behind them.
This section in a book i found about tattoos also explains tattoos were used as a mean of identification, so everyone knew that this person was in prison which woud affect there lifes after prison, making it difficult for them to get a job or future after prison. They would be inked to know what crime they committed and how many and how long they have been in prison for.
Nazi germany would use tattooing on the jews in concentration camps to permanently mark a number onto the Jews chest.
Traditional tattoos equipment was not used for either the Jews or inprisoned criminals. Almost anything can be turned into a tattoo gun, shavers, razors, guitar strings are common materials used. The ink would be black or blue lines, Carbon produced from liquefying any number of substances is a common substitute. They would use anything able to liquefy down with water.
I want to research further into different ways gangs tattoo, the materials, the technique and how they look different from eachother.
In this piece of writing i found on a tattoo website it explain the reasons behind criminal tattoos. It explains the reasons behind criminal tattoos and that is where Gang tattoos started. Tattoos are used to show membership of gangs and records the wearers personal history. This is their identification. Certain tattoo designs have developed into coded meanings. I want to research further into the code meanings and what different tattoos resemble in different gangs.
The Russian Mafia- Thieves in Law
The Thieves in Law -Vor v Zakone are known for having very well-articulated tattoos. The tattoos are usually done in the prisons with homemade tools, so they are on the body for life. Tattoos are often done as a rite of passage for the criminals - they are often tattooed before they are even sentenced to prison. It is hard to decode Vor v Zakone tattoos because most of the tattoos have multiple meanings. The reasoning behind this is so that people who are not involved with the Zakone will not know their whereabouts. The Vor v Zakone tattoos also have hidden meanings as well, such as the widely popular cathedral with onion-shaped cupolas tattoo. To the average person, this looks like a religious tattoo. However, to a Russian criminal, it has a very different meaning. The number of cupolas present is the number of times a person has been incarcerated.
Another reason for the hidden meanings behind the tattoos is because criminals can show how tough they are to other prisoners without the obvious designs. A lot of the "popular" prison tattoos are religious symbols. To anyone looking at a Russian criminal, the tattoos would make the person seem very religious. Another good example of a religious tattoo having a completely different meaning is the Madonna and Child. It is thought to "ward off evil", which I find ironic. In reality, this tattoo symbolises that the person has been a criminal from a young age.
Arkady Bronnikov is regarded as Russia’s leading expert on criminal tattoo iconography after having studied at the Moscow Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and later worked as a local police inspector solving cases. In the photos below shows the different tattoos resemble in the Russian Mafia Code by Arkady Bronnikov.
Image 1
Image 2
Each wrist manacle means he’s served a sentence of more than five years.
The words on his arm read ‘Remember me, don’t forget me’ and ‘I waited 15 years for you’.
Eight-pointed stars on the clavicles denote a high-ranking thief.
The lighthouse on his right arm shows a desire for freedom.
Image 3
Monasteries, churches, cathedrals, the Virgin Mary, saints and angels on the chest or back display a devotion to thievery.
The dollar bills, skyscrapers and machine gun with the initials ‘US’ stamped on it convey this inmate’s love for the American mafia-like lifestyle. The eyes mean ‘I’m watching over you’ (the other inmates).
Eight-pointed stars on the clavicles denote a high-ranking thief.
Stars on the shoulders show that an inmate is a criminal ‘authority’.
A bow tie on the neck was often forcibly applied to pickpockets who had broken the thieves’ code and sided with the authorities.
A snake around the neck is a sign of drug addiction.
These trousers are the uniform of the strictest type of prison regime in the Soviet Union. Criminals sent here are known as ‘osobo opasnim retsidivistom’ (especially dangerous recidivists), who have carried out grave offences such as murder or paedophilia. They are not subject to parole.
The skull and crossbones show that a prisoner is serving a life sentence.
Image 4
Nazi symbols can mean that an inmate has fascist sympathies, but more usually they are inked as a protest towards the prison or camp administration.
Epaulettes on the shoulders show a negative attitude to the system, and are worn by high-ranking criminals who often have a corresponding nickname such as ‘major’ or ‘colonel’.
Image 5
Eyes on the stomach denote homosexuality.
Video 1
Thieves by Law - Vory V Zakone 2010 Documentry.
I watched a Documentry about the life of the Russian Mafia. The documentry explains different areas of the criminal world, the tattoos and also violence. I concentrated on the areas of tattooing and what they resemble, their codes and symbolic tattoos.
The beginning scene refers The Russian Mafia as the ''kings of the criminal underworld.''
Tattoos
Tattoos became a distinctive mark of the membership. Deciphering them would reveal ones status in the criminal hierarchy
quote by ex gang member
'If someone had a particular tattoo arried in prison everyone would know who he was.'
Each tattoo has an enormous significance. It a criminals ID. The describe who he is and what he has done.
In the documentry the interviewer asked an ex thieves in law member asked ''what does your tattoo mean?''
This ex thieves in law member
' It means im not loyal to people who collaborate with prison authorities'
This ex member also has 2 stars on both knees which means ''ill never get down on my knees to the authorities.'
In the criminal world the highest authority is the thief by law.
The laws are followed:
NO FAMILY, NO BUSINESS,NO MONEY OF YOUR OWN, NO JOB, NO APARTMENT, no even your an address.
The thieves in law code is very simple. Its to not betray one another and not collaborating with other authorities.
Title. Double click me.
STARS
Stars are the main Russian Symbolic tattoo. If a member from the Thieves In Law get the star tattoos without permission then they will have it cut off using a knife, razorblade, burnt off or rubbed off using sandpaper.
A member needs to earn there stars and different tattoos by obeying the authorties, committing crimes and showing they deserve there part in the group.
The whole body tattoos are refered to as topcoat and tales. If you dont have any tattoos on your body the criminal fraternity (gang group) will see you as worthless. Before a member is tattoo'd he must prove himseld and gang members that he deserves them.
Image 6
Image 7
Image 8
The eight-point star, often placed on the chest and on the knees. This tattoo, when placed on the knees, means "I won't stand on my knees before the authorities." When placed on the shoulders it shows rank as Thief. This is one of the most important tattoos within the Thieves in Law gang as it ranks and depicts the members place in the hierarchy chart. This tattoo would be shown in russian prison films as a sign off 'the leader' I want to experiment different ways of tattooing this specific tattoo onto the skin using different makeup methods and techniques.
I watched another Documentry about Russian Prison Tattoos. This one ex convict was explaining that tattoo all communicate ranking silently. They show status in prison.
'First of all its status. You have to present yourself so other notice you.'
The two images below show is tattoos on both arms.
This is death. I kill with the ledt hand and forgive with my right hand.
Image 8
Image 9
Image 10
Roman wears the marks of the Thieves in Law. Marks he had to fight hard to get. He was in jail by the time he was 20. He never backed down from a fight. His first crime was selling weapons illegally. When Roman went to prison he immediatley attacked a prisoner who was marker with one of the most powerful thieve tattoos. He wore two stars on his knees which means a prisoner who commands respect and he will not get in his knees for any authorities. This shows to the other gang and prison members that he is not afraid of the authorities and he is a strong person. Stars on the chest mark an even higher rank. Only the most respected can wear the thieves stars.
Roman earned his stars with just 6 months left on his sentence when a guard of him made a comment which was offensive to Roman. He turned around and broke the officers jaw. Roman was put in solitary and was beaten for 12 days. Roman wears his scars with pride and was stabbed nine times. Taking on the guard earned him respect and roman get his stars.
The penalty for wearing stars that are not approved by the thieves in law can be severe. They are even cut off the persons skin or in most cases the person is killed.
Title. Double click me.
Romans proud facial stab scars.
The practise began in the 19th century. In 1846 the branded criminals with the word KAT which means hard labour criminal.
This branding across the face told everyone what that person had been. Since that day the word KAT has come to mean someone who has no morals.
Over time convicts embrace these markings. They became proud and in the 1900s prisoners began to mark themselves.
Portrait of Soviet Leader Stilen were the most common early tattoos.
This image shows a criminal with the work KAT tattoo'd onto the face.
Image 11
Image 12
Image 13
Portrait of Soviet Leader Staline. Criminals believed having him tattoo'd onto their bodies would protect them from the firing squad. As they thought the authorities would not shoot at a image of their leader.
However this wasnt the case they would get shot in the back of the head.
Image 14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23
Karen VartanoV is an ex convict who tattoo'd himself and others whilst in prison. He made his first tattoo when he was 14 at school, using a sewing needle along with some thread and ink. He soaked the needle in blue ink and pricked into his skin.
Every piece of rubber has to be burnt down into a soot. A liquid is then mixed to make the ink
Karen builds a tattoo gun using an ordinary tooth brush. He takes some silk thread and cuts the head of the brush.
Type of ink is known as Bardak meaning Chaos. It represents an evolution in the coded messages of prison tattoos. These images show the steps in how Karen and other convicts would make tattoos. Tire tube or boot hells are burnt down into an ash. Boot hells are the best source of rubber as they are more saturated inks. It stays on the skin for longer.
In prison the liquid is usually Urine. It is used for antiseptic so no infection would get into the persons blood. The urine must be from the person who is being tattoo'd otherwise you would be labelled a homosexual. The mixture is poured onto and old sheet used as a strainer.
The rest of the tooth brush is moulded into a handle. This is called prison welding.
Karen takes a moulder from a walkman or from a boom box and attaches it to the tooth brush. This is engine for the tattoo gun.
This is a tip taken from a pen. Burns a hole through the end to make a hole for the needle to sit in.
Sharpen the needle or 'claw'. The needle is made from a guitar string and it sanded down using sand paper.
The needle is then put into the hole of the pen end and the machine is ready to use.
Karen then tattoos himself to see whether the gun works. If Karen were to tattoo a member of the gang in a wrong way or for the tattoos to come out rubbish he would be beaten or worse killed as the tattoo's are prisoners everything and they do not like their tattoos to look rubbish.
Placement of tattoos is just as important as the images themselves. The same image can mean different things depending on where it is on the body. A woman on the chest is a sign of someone who has been intiated thieves in law. A woman on the stomach means prostitution.
The Japanese Yakuza
It all started in the EDOperiod more than 300 years ago. Prisoners were tattood on their arms for certain crimes by the authorities. It was done so that you could see it when they raised their arms hidden under the kimono worn by japanese. They were marked as a criminal for life. Once they came home people avioded them and nbody would give them a job. As protest against acts by the Japanese authorities, the whole tattoo culture evolved. From there the Yakuza usually regular customersin prsion, took over this culture and it became an insuperable part of the Yakuza lifestyle. Back in 1900s the Oyabun which means Bosses paid forall their clean members to be tattoo'd. In the past it was obligatory in many clans to have a tattoo. Now days this image of convicts and the yakuza in connection with tattoos has faded, mainly because there are so many normal people who have them. Young people do not show their tattoos in public., in japan people do not ike tattoos to be shown. Strict laws make it hard for people with tattoos to enter into many public places such as gyms, swimming pools and spas.
Image 24
No criminal gang in the world is more closely identified with tattoos than the Yakuza. Their trademark is a full bodysuit of ink. When people see tattoos in japan they think 'Yakuza'
An Ex Yakuza Member explained in a documentry:
'In Osaka to get your whole body tattoo'd you need injurance. It hurts so much but once tattoo'd there is no turning back.
The strip left in the middle of the chest.
Image 25
Yakuza members leave a strip door down the middle of their chest. The bare skin allows the men to keep their tattoos hidden when wearing the traditional kimono.
The is also a practical function. Its there because they believe having no space for letting your skin breathe is bad for there liver.
In there clan, the most tattoo'd person is seen the best. Its a competition to who can put up with the most pain when getting tattoo'd.
The yakuza wearing the traditional kimono covering up their tattoos.
I watched a documentry about the Yakuza and their tattoos. One ex member explains his tattoos.
'I have a tiger and a dragon and on my back is Fudo Mydo.' Fudo Mydo means unmovable. He is the guardian of the buddhist treasures and also is an angry spirit that destroys evil and obstacles thats in his past.
Image 26
History
The earliest criminal tattoos were in Japan dated 1600 years by the 18th century a complex system of marks were used to identify criminals. Which indicated their crimes and number of tattoo and convictions.
The character 'DOG' was tattooed onto their foreheads which back then meant criminal. This is very similar to the word 'KAT' when researching into the thieves in law tattoos. It is a very similar background to thieves in law tattoos however the tattoos are very different.
Soon tattooing began shifting from a means of branding to a distinct stylstic choice. Despite the criminal association firefighters began marking themselves. They believed having a dragon tattoo'd would protect them from fire. In 1789 a law was past prohibiting tattooing in Japan. It didnt become legal again till 1948 when Japan liberalised laws after there victory within the war. It was common to see soldiers with tattoos. It became culture after Second world war.
Image 27
Tattooing
Drawings of criminal tattoos (From the book of Tamabayashi Haruo , ” Bunshin hyakushi ” )
Image 28
Image 29
The tradional way of tattooing is called TEBORI. It is done by hand with a steel spike attached to a long rod the painful process is very slow and usually always detailed.
The Yakuza often ask the tattoo artist to choose the designs to decorate their bodies. They have many hours having their bodies tattoo'd.
I watched a documentry about japanese tattooing. They Yakuza tattoo artist explains he used to use bamboo tools but now uses steel.
The tradional inks used are red and black.
Red is tradionally made from a mixture of iron sulphate and vitriol, both highlt toxic to humans. This means only small areas can be tattoo'd before fever and weakness kick in.
Image 30
Image 31
Small areas in the tattoos are made from red ink. Usually flowers or small details on the whole bodysuits.
The tiger is one of the most fierce of all animals. The Yakuza pride themselves on being intensely fierce.
The Japanese believe that all images on the body must be in balance and harmony. Designs are often include mirror images. In japan they have an ancient design with a tiger and dragon. The tiger fears off demons and disease whilst the dragon brings good fortune. Dragons are also considered fierce and extremely powerful like the Yakuza.
The Traditional Japanese Tattoo “Irezumi” is the decoration of the body with mythical beasts, flowers, leafs, and other images from stories, myths and tales. The impetus for the development of the art was the progression of the woodblock prints and notably the “hero’s heavily decorated with Irezumi”. Wearing Irezumi is an “Aspiration” to life’s goals.
The tattoo artist will put his signature on the Yakuzas bodies which is a status symbol. If the tattoo artist is famous it is a sign of how wealthy you are and how much you payed for your tattoos.
Tattoo artists name in the traditional Yakuza tattoo.
With the Yakuza tattoos can serve as protection on the inside of prison. Other inmates and guards stay clear of those who had tattoos. In prison the Yakuza have the highest authority among prisoners. This is the same as thieves in law. Their tattoos resemble power and the stars on the chest symbolise strength and the highest and most important gang members. Both gang tattoos are for identification and power. However the difference between the Yakuza ink and thieves in law is the pattern, tattoo types and way they are tattoo'd onto the body.
The thieves in law tattoos have no pattern or colour. They are just symbols and are used to represent the person who they are such as past crimes, how long they have been in prison for and hierarchy of the gang.
The Yakuza's tattoos are colourful and follow a pattern. The ink their bodies with art however what they have tattoo'd onto them are their beliefs and animals and Irezumi is a big part of the yakuza tattoos. The Yakuza tattoos flow onto the body and are more eye catching and pleasing on the eye. Thieves in law tattoos are not pleasing on the eye however the placement on body is important.
The techniques used to tattoo is different. The thieves in law would get their tattoos done in prison or outside. In pirson the ink used would be a mixture of tire soot and urine. They would use a handmade gun. On the other hand the Yakuza would spend hours to have their beautiful tattoos tattoo'd onto their bodies with the tradional way called Tebori. Which is a long steel tool with needles on the end. Each piece of the tattoo is detailed and is done by hand. Yakuza tattoos represent wealth and also the most powerful have more tattoo's as this way of tattooing is extremely painful.
Yakuza Vs Thieves in Law
Image 32
Image 33
Image 34
Image 35
Difference's in the way their tattoos look.
The Yakuza ink is colourful, detailed and is more of an art form. The ink is more eye catching and beauitiful. The Yakuza tattoos are usually called 'bodysuits' which means they would have tattoos all over the body not covering their feet, hands or face. This is because the yakuza cover up their tattoos usually wearing suits.
The difference between thieves in law tattoos are the tattoos are not colourful. Because of the unprofessional way of tattooing onto the skin in prison the tattoo's become discoloured and fade. Usually leaving the tattoo's hard to work out what they are from a distance. The yakuza tattoos stand out and are eye catching, there tattoos are more for show and wealth whereas thieves in law tattoos are for meaning and the gang members criminal past and represents who they are.
The tattoos are placed onto the body however they do not link together. They are placed onto the body in certain areas resembling different meanings however they are placed onto the skin and do not flow onto the skin. Looking like a stamp rather than art form.
Similarities
The Yakuza's ink is usually patterned or mirrored leaving a strip down the centre of the body. This is similar to the thieves in law most meaningful tattoo the 'eight pointed stars' which are tattoo'd on both Knees and on the gang members chest. This is a mirrored tattoo, the same as the Yakuza having the mirrored image on both left and right of the body.
Both the Yakuza and Thieves in law take pride in their tattoos. They also have to earn their tattoos and is the biggest part about their image as a gang members.