In an era when freedom of expression was under strict control, tattoos became more than just decoration – they transformed into a language understood only by the chosen few. In prisons, barracks, and even among sailors, each drawing carried a hidden meaning, and its owner automatically entered the closed club of “insiders.” This is precisely what Oskar Poll – an artist, researcher, and junior research fellow at the Estonian Literary Museum, who has dedicated himself to studying Soviet tattoo culture since 2019 – talks about.
Who Got Tattoos in the USSR?
Many still believe that tattoos in Soviet times were exclusively the domain of prisoners. But reality is much broader. According to Poll’s research, tattoos were done not only in camps but also among military personnel, sailors, and even youth from vocational schools who sought to emulate “authorities.” For prisoners, tattoos were a source of pride, a mark of status, and belonging to a group. For others, it was a way to stand out, show character, or simply alleviate boredom.
“Then you were part of a group. Undoubtedly, the fact that there was a lot of time in prison cells also played a role,” notes Poll. Indeed, in conditions of isolation and monotony, a tattoo became an act of creativity, a form of resistance, and even art.
Symbolism: From Anchor to Cat
Each element had its own meaning. The most popular motifs:
- Anchor – a symbol for sailors, but also for stability and reliability.
- Skulls, demons, monsters – outside the prison circle, popular among rebels and those who wanted to emphasize their “danger.”
- Cat – one of the most famous symbols: it signified a “thief in law.” Its image on the arm or shoulder was equivalent to a passport in the criminal world.
- Rose entwined with barbed wire – indicated that the person had served time in a juvenile colony.
- Military units – in the army, unit numbers or emblems were often tattooed as a sign of belonging and brotherhood.
Interestingly, religious symbols in prison did not have spiritual significance – they were an act of protest against the atheistic state ideology. If a woman sent a photograph, prisoners could get a tattoo based on it. Even the Statue of Liberty, tattooed in northern Siberia in the 1980s, became a symbol of the dream of freedom – ironically, given the context.
Women’s Tattoos: Hidden Signs
Women also got tattoos, but much less frequently and in more hidden places. Their designs were smaller, often applied to the wrists, neck, or back – areas where they could be easily concealed under clothing. This was due not only to social norms but also to the fact that women’s prisons were less “tattooed” compared to men’s.
From Joke to Art
Not all tattoos had a deep meaning. Many were done simply for fun, as a joke, or out of boredom. “When a person is bored, they start getting tattoos,” says Poll. But even such “frivolous” works are considered part of cultural heritage today. “Personally, I consider it art,” adds the researcher.
Modernity: Tattoos for All Ages
Today, tattoos are more popular than ever. There are more and more artists, and the clientele is more diverse. Elderly people, especially women, are increasingly visiting studios. Poll’s oldest client was a 70-year-old woman who got a small rose. “Many women who get tattoos at a respectable age do so because they have been thinking about it for a very long time, but they had a partner or husband who didn’t allow it. When the man is no longer there, the woman reclaims her body,” shares the researcher.
A Scientific Approach to Tattoo Culture
Poll is not just an artist – he is a scientist. In his master’s thesis at the University of Tartu, he researched Soviet-era tattoos, and his doctoral dissertation is dedicated to the period of Estonia’s regained independence and the formation of modern tattoo culture. He studies when tattoos ceased to be a marginal phenomenon and became recognized art, and when professionalism emerged in this field.
His book “Father, I Got Myself a Bird!” is not just a collection of facts, but an attempt to preserve the memory of people who expressed themselves through tattoos in an era when it was almost impossible. Each tattoo is a story, each drawing is a voice that was not silenced.
Tattoos in the USSR are not just ink on skin. They are a language that spoke louder than words. And today, when we see a cat on an arm or a rose on a shoulder, we can read in them not just a pattern, but an entire era full of secrets, courage, and the human spirit.