Phenomenal Body Art Tattoos and Piercings

By Deborah • April 22, 2008

Welcome back!

The roots for tattoos go back to ancient times as a highly popular art form — some simply to adorn oneself for the beauty alone, while for others it’s to represent rank and authority, and for some cultures to tell a story of a person’s life and achievements. While it may not be new to many parts of the world, the art of the Russian tattoo hasn’t been around for very long, for which the 2nd annual tattoo expo was held in Moscow over the weekend.

Photo Reuters

Competitions for tattoos were held for 15 nominations, with professional tattoo masters as jury, members of the Guild of Russian Professional Masters.

But tattoo competitions weren’t the only feature highlighted at the Moscow Tattoo Expo 2008. There were magical performances, the pierce-men and extreme freak show presented body modifications, and masters demonstrated their talents for body art on beautiful, long, lanky women as their canvas.

Photo Reuters

The exhibition also included performances of funk, punk and rock groups from Russia and other countries, a fire show, erotic ballet, and body-modificators working in fashion and fetish with leathers and metals.

The international tattoo convention was held in Russia’s capital on April 20, 2008 at the Russian Exhibition Center.

Blue Disease
You begin with something small on the arm, the wrist, an ankle or perhaps your hip — a tiny tattoo that will remain with you for the rest of your life. After the initial exhilaration wears off, you can’t resist the nagging urge for more complexity, to beautify more skin and thus succumb to the gnawing craving — you get another tattoo … and another … and another.

Photo Tattoo Expo

The tattoos will often follow some theme, with the ultimate result of a full canvas taking up an entire arm — called a ‘sleeve’ — a leg, or full back. And it often doesn’t stop there. This addiction to getting tattoos is what the Russians call ‘the blue disease,’ named as such because the older tattoos done in the country had a bluish tinge to them.

The blue disease is actually a fairly recent development, as professional tattooing done in legitimate salons and with up-to-date equipment began — by the estimates of experienced Russian artists — no more than 5 to 7 years ago.

Prior to that, anyone wishing to get tattoos had to go abroad to countries like Germany and the US, or acquire one in a roundabout way — by becoming an inmate in Russia’s prisons. Tattoos earned while serving hard time would often serve as a sort of brand, containing information saying when, where and why the person had been sent ‘down the river.’

Since prisoners had no access to inks, they were forced to resort to methods of acquiring the base color, such as using the residue left behind after burning the heels of their shoes.

Photo Tattoo Expo

But today there is no shortage of the inks or equipment required to produce quality tattoos, and the Moscow International Tattoo Expo illustrates just that.

Visit Tattoo Expo where you will find a plethora of more tattoos, body art and piercings.

The next upcoming tattoo event will be the 2008 Fresno Tattoo Expo on April 26th & 27th at the Fresno Convention Center in California.

Photo Tattoo Expo

2008 Fresno Tattoo Expo April 26th & 27th

Moscow Tattoo Expo 2007

30 Responses to “ Phenomenal Body Art Tattoos and Piercings ”

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Debo Hobo Apr 22nd, 2008 at 9:08 am

Some of these are amazing works of art and some I have to admit are a bit unsettling.
Deborah Apr 22nd, 2008 at 7:59 pm

Agreed, Debo. Much of it depicts some great talent, but the piercings for studs in the head kind of go a little over the top
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CindyM Apr 23rd, 2008 at 6:44 pm

While I’m not a fan of tattoos per se, I do have to give give credit where credit is due for the talent it takes to create those works of art.

I think I’d like to keep my art on canvas but I can see where if you were into tattoos this could be addictive
Faraz Ahmed Apr 23rd, 2008 at 9:25 pm

Ouch man the head piercings look like they really really had to hurt, i’d rather have a simple ear piercing but the head piercing is taking it a bit too far
Deborah Apr 24th, 2008 at 3:06 am

I’m with you on that one, Cindy I can appreciate the talent, but wouldn’t want to wear a piece for life

Faraz, it almost pains me just to look at it, thinking of what they went through to get them. I would think snagging on things and possibly poking someone could be a small issue as well
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cohnsey Apr 30th, 2008 at 10:58 am

i like the body art photos. the piercings were kinda gross though
Deborah Apr 30th, 2008 at 1:28 pm

Haha, some of them are kind of out there, Cohnsey
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Delaney55 Aug 6th, 2008 at 11:47 pm

Those are some of the finest detailed tattoos that I have seen, some of them being fantastic works of art. I can do without the body mod piercings and tongue cutting though, that’s not too pretty, but, to each there own.
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Aleks@My tattoo pictures Aug 25th, 2008 at 10:20 am

Nice site. I have added it to my favourites, greetings. What do You think about this mystrious tribal film with tribal music
Mystrious tribal tattoos & tribal music
Tricia M Feb 9th, 2009 at 9:14 am

Some fabulous work – piercings are not my thing but some of the ink, powerful statements….

Tricia M’s last blog post..Body Tattoos – Stay Safe
милeди Jun 21st, 2009 at 10:37 am

Отличная заметка. Добавил в закладки. Не в каждом блоге сейчас встретишь столько интересных и полезных мыслей, которые можно применить на деле. Но понадобится еще время, чтобы осмыслить инфу. Даже сейчас, когда после прочтения текста Вашего поста, в тот момент, когда пишу комментарий, я думаю, о тех вещах, смысл которых мне теперь практически по другому видится. Эх, что за день сегодня – полезный день.
Lindsey Jul 9th, 2009 at 7:54 am

None of this depicts anything. It is art and some people just don’t see that. Tattoos and piercings not only set people aside to being different from others, but there are alot of amazing stories behind some of the tattoos and the body art. And the piercings are just a way for someone to show their personality.
JoeD Jul 28th, 2009 at 8:53 pm

Well Said Lindsey. Great photos great art.
Tattoo ink Designs
Tattoo Joe Sep 5th, 2009 at 9:34 am

Great display! Thanks for posting. Really like the axe warrior arm tat.
Kaliteli Bilgi Nov 12th, 2009 at 10:20 am

These are disgusting
.-= Kaliteli Bilgi´s last blog ..Domuz Gribi Belirtileri =-.
Ben 10 Alien Force Mar 25th, 2010 at 8:56 am

Wow. İntresting.
butterfly tattoos design Sep 1st, 2010 at 3:44 am

it’s first time to me find the unique and different tattoo like this.it’s very amazing tattoo design
cat@self help healing arts journal Sep 23rd, 2010 at 10:47 pm

Its mostly gorgeous artwork but for a few really bizarre things. Like how are these guys going to grow old with spikes drilled into their heads? Very interesting what people are doing to their bodies now days.
Sarfraz Oct 3rd, 2010 at 4:20 am

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Sarfraz Oct 3rd, 2010 at 11:50 pm

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