#luckybstrd

My fascination for the subcultures of criminal and prison tattoos was the reason why I started learning the trade. Since then, I broaden my exoertise in the matter and criminal tattoos are fully part of my work. I researched different  Several criminal tattoo subcultures such as France (early XXth century), Italy, South America but Russian Criminal tattoos remains by far my favorite when it comes to iconography and how elaborated the meaning behind each tattoo is,

Today and until the end of the week, buy the Russian Criminal Tattoos Series consisting of 5 limited edition tattoo flash-sheets.  Find them on my online shop or by clicking BIG CARTEL in the left menu. You can purchase them individually for 20€ each or the entire series of 5 flash-sheets for 50€.

RUSSIAN CRIMINAL TATTOOS SERIES

Since I created the LUCKY B$TRD character back in 2016 in Barcelona, my logo has always been a balaclava... To this day, this symbol of riot, protest, anarchy, unity, anti-system remains the main element of the design.  

The shape changed throughout the years but the logo remain a simple ski mask.

Etymology: The name “balaclava”  comes from their use at the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War, referring to the town near Sevastopol in the Crimea, where British troops there wore knitted headgear to keep warm.  

LUCKY B$TRD is more than a personal brand, it’s my alter-ego, a character who artistically manifests the inner rage, the violence and the raw and dark facets that co-exist inside of me. I draw from the well of my own life to fuel my vision and artistic endeavor. I needed to incorporate meaningful signs to create more than a logo: an emblem. I wanted this new design to tell the story of who and what’s behind the mask.

Semiotics enthusiast, I’ve always researched the meanings behind signs we see regularly, but not always comprehend. For this design, I decided to add two elements: 1. The Chicano clown make up (the lines across the eyes).  The clown in chicano art and culture has always been present and with important meanings for who “lives in the street”. The clown revolves around the idea of not showing weakness, Smile now and cry later, Mi Vida Loca... a “living the present moment” / Carpe Diem philosophy.  Other meaning: in Brazilian criminal tattoo, a clown means cop killer....  2. The 3 dots or the teardrop.  Those symbols are some of the more widely recognized prison tattoos. Meanings vary depending on the country: in France the 3 dots mean : mort aux vaches  (death to cops), in latino gangs it means Mi Vida Loca... The teardrop also carries several meaning from having killed someone  to having lost a fellow inmate... 

Those signs and their meaning, added to the balaclava define a more accurate shape to the ideas and values behind the mask.