Acquired by creative group FUEL in 2013, Arkady Bronnikov’s vast collection of photographs of Russian prisoners’ tattoos is currently on show at Grimaldi Gavin Gallery in London.

Taken between the mid-60s and the mid-80s, during Bronnikov’s career as a criminalistics expert at the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs, these photographs originally served the purpose of police investigations on criminal behavior, providing today’s viewers with a stunningly straight and unconventional depiction of the phenomenon.

Police Files Print No. 2
Giclée print on archival fine art paper 100 x 140 cm
© Arkady Bronnikov / FUEL

Russian Criminal Tattoo Police Files
Until November 14th 2014
Grimaldi Gavin Gallery
27 Abermarle Street, London 
www.grimaldigavin.com
Catalogue by FUEL, 2014
256 pp., 20 £
www.fuel.com