WOMEN TATTOO 1978 001 at my Flickr
Dear PINK’s
I meet Mr. Marian at “Olimpia” – my favorite flea market. He noticed that I was talking to another guy about his tattoos and proposed that he can show me what he’s got. He is probably the most impressive Illustrated Men I meet until now. In my exploration I am searching for very basic, root drawings, images that can be defined as “naive” or “primitive art”. M’s case does not fit here – his tattoos are extremely well done. (Probably by his brother – who I had brief occasion to talk with and who also has long – longer than half of his life -prison story.) Anyway I was totally hypnotised. M’s tattoos are all women except for double portrait of Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta on his back. Many faces are anonymous for me but no doubt that he wears Pola Raksa* portrait on his inner right arm. I do not want to try to go with my interpretations too far. I never ask for the crimes committed by the people I photograph and he doesn’t told me much about his drawings. Mainly technical stuff. His story with tattoos started at Czarne – prison for notorious criminals. He spend 23 years in the jail and now awaits next sentence. Considering that writing on his lower back states: WOMAN – A TOY FOR THE BED one can talk about strong mixture of worship and objectualization of women here. I am not sure if women are angels or demons for Marian – surely they are the central axis of his life.
PINK NOT DEAD!
maurycy
“GREASE” TATTOO 1978 at my Flickr
* Pola Raksa – polish film actress from 60/70 famous more than anything because of her role in “Four tank men and a dog”.
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