Syntegrally

In the 90s, capitalism exploded in Russia as well as the Russian mafia. Money became the new symbol of power in the ex-communist nation while people assembled huge sums of profit though illegal activity.

Disputes among different Mafia families caused jealousy and betrayal that created a deadly cocktail. And as you might know, mobsters rarely die of old age peacefully in their bed.

However, some mafia families chose to extend their legacy and memory after their death by ordering tombstones worthy of great national heroes. This majestic tombs depict engraved images of the person buried with their belongings.

The following pictures were presented by the Russian photographer Denis Tarasov at London’s Saatchi Gallery in an exhibition named Body Language. The exhibition looks at the political and social context and its relationship to physical body.