Notes from a Prisoner: The Human Insulators

I've never seen so many tattooed people as I did in prison. Unlike in the free world, where people prefer colorful designs, inmates typically tattoo themselves in a single tone.

In prison, it's rare to find someone without tattoos. Many enter the colony with clean skin and get tattooed over time. Some cover themselves from head to toe. Such individuals are often described as being "blue like electrical tape."

Ink is Nothing. "Burned Ink" is Everything!

The choice of tattoo materials is limited, primarily consisting of ink from gel pens, which is why they are banned in pre-trial detention centers. Ideal tattoo ink is made from burnt rubber. Burnt rubber gives the tattoos a rich, lasting color. The process involves burning rubber, typically from tires or old shoe soles, and mixing it with hot water to create a paste.

One tattoo artist explained: "It's all about concentration: burnt ink leaves a thicker mark, so if I need to make five dots with regular ink, one is enough with burnt ink."

There are myths about adding urine to the ink, but it only contains hot water and burnt rubber. Preparing the ink requires experience, particularly in achieving the right consistency by burning the rubber and mixing it with hot water.

Tattoos made with burnt ink are dark and vibrant, unlike regular ink tattoos, which fade over time. Consequently, inmates often seek suitable rubber, sometimes even cutting heels off their fellow inmates' shoes.

The Inmates' Favorite Sayings

Inmates often tattoo various quotes and symbols. One popular tattoo among prisoners is the English word "Sinful." Others include a neck tattoo resembling a cut line with the phrase "Cut here." These tattoos could be a source of mockery, though. Some inmates even tattooed "Don't wake me" on their eyelids or drew targets on their heads for guards to aim at.

One of the most popular tattoos was on the instep of both feet, reading "They are tired" on one foot and "of treading the zone" on the other. Many inmates sported this tattoo, symbolizing their weariness of prison life.

There was a story about an illiterate gypsy inmate who wanted a tattoo that read "They are tired of treading the zone." The tattoo artist, with a sense of humor, tattooed "They are tired of going to school" instead. The gypsy begged to have it corrected, but whether it was ever fixed is unknown.

Not Just Any Tattoo

Tattoo types are distinctly categorized. There are regular tattoos, which anyone except the lowest-ranked inmates can get, and there are specific tattoos, called "mastery," which must be earned. These mastery tattoos serve as a prisoner's passport, indicating their rank and life choices, whether to serve their time quietly or constantly rebel against the authorities.

Each significant event in a prisoner's life is often marked with a tattoo. The process of earning these tattoos is taken very seriously, with inmates paying for artistic tattoos but never the mastery tattoos.

One tattoo artist, Sasha, said he would never give mastery tattoos to lower-ranked inmates. Regular tattoos, yes, but not mastery tattoos, as they require understanding their significance.

Evolving Tattoo Culture

Over time, the meaning behind mastery tattoos has faded. Many inmates now get these tattoos without earning them, creating confusion. Symbols like stars, which were once reserved for high-ranking criminals, are now common among regular inmates.

Humorous reinterpretations of intimidating abbreviations have also become common. For example, a threatening abbreviation was jokingly reinterpreted as "I love halva, jam, and bacon" to avoid beatings from guards. This highlights the shift in tattoo culture, where symbols once representing serious criminal status are now often worn without understanding their original meaning.

The Human Insulators

As tattoo techniques advance, inmates want to look good, leading some to seek colorful inks or interesting designs from magazines. Despite the risks of infection and punishment, many inmates cover their bodies with tattoos, their designs often reflecting their prison life.

Upon release, these "human insulators" either modify their tattoos, hide them, or proudly display them, continuing their lives with tattoos as a permanent part of their identity. Tattoos, after all, are an expression of one's soul, and everyone's soul is different.

The author's opinions do not necessarily reflect the editorial position.