I'm not into the ink myself but for all you tat-lovers out there, I'd recommend getting hold of the series of books about Russian Underworld tattoos. Linky here, although probably NSFW.
They were compiled by the son of a Mongol? anthropology professor who, because of his class origins, was forced to work as a prison guard during the soviet era. Throughout his career he maintained his own interest in anthropology and became an expert on the Russian criminal underclass.
The books include photos and his own drawing of criminal tattoos, along with an explanation of the meanings. They're a spectacular collection of the funny, rude, racist, irreverent, pornographic and tragic.
They were compiled by the son of a Mongol? anthropology professor who, because of his class origins, was forced to work as a prison guard during the soviet era. Throughout his career he maintained his own interest in anthropology and became an expert on the Russian criminal underclass.
The books include photos and his own drawing of criminal tattoos, along with an explanation of the meanings. They're a spectacular collection of the funny, rude, racist, irreverent, pornographic and tragic.