New Fashion, New Trends – the Modern Aspect of Tattoos in Prison Creativity Cover Image

New Fashion, New Trends – the Modern Aspect of Tattoos in Prison Creativity
New Fashion, New Trends – the Modern Aspect of Tattoos in Prison Creativity

Author(s): Mariusz Snopek
Subject(s): Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Visual Arts
Published by: Fundacja Pedagogium
Keywords: prison tattoo; prison subculture; reasons for body decoration; symbolism and functions of tattoos; prison artist; fashion in prison

Summary/Abstract: The article concerns the phenomenon of prison tattoos. It can be recognized that the modern tattoo outside of prison in Poland is going through its “boom”, which was started in 1989, and since the new millennium has begun to be treated as art at the highest artistic level. As a result of this, also prison tattoo has begun to evolve. According to the concept of transmission, prisoners transfer all patterns from freedom to the prison environment and there they adapt them to the prevailing conditions. Therefore, the broached issues oscillate around both the traditional symbolism of prison tattoos, and their modern aspect. The article also describes the history and importance of the prison tattoo artist, whose position – due to interest among prisoners in the aesthetic tattoo – has increased significantly.

  • Issue Year: 9/2015
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 241-266
  • Page Count: 26
  • Language: English