The best tattoos in trash style. Trash Polka Tattoo - Style of Rebels and Innovators in the Tattoo World

In tattooing, like any other fine arts, there are many stylistic trends. Some of them have an established character, while others are just a short-term reaction to fashion. The first, in particular, can rightly be attributed to a young trend - trash polka. Its pronounced character and justification for its occurrence allow us to speak of a strict author’s concept. Next, we will consider the characteristic features and symbolism of this popular trend in the world of tattoos.

History of origin

Unlike most other movements, trash polka can boast of a true history of its origins. Not only the place of its origin (Germany) is known, but also the names of its creators. One of the authors (Volko Mershski) conceived a new style back in the early 70s, when I visited an American military base. He was impressed by the brutal tanks and strong soldiers. However, he took the first step towards creating his own studio (“Buena Vista Tattoo Club”) only after meeting his lifelong friend, Simone Plouffe. All this time, Volko waited and tested the waters (read the skin of his clients) in order to loudly declare a new trend.

It is important to note that both authors have artistic education and experience as graphic designers. Their exploration into the world of tattoos began with them experimenting with unusual material. Namely - paper newspapers, colorful fonts. Also, the birth of a new style was influenced by their love for black and white photography. Creating collages from newspaper clippings of pulp reading, various splashes of color and their own drawings, the artists gradually took the right path. Their conceptual style received a charismatic name. Despite the existing eloquent translation of the word trash from English, they themselves cite love for gypsy culture as a source of inspiration. In addition, the couple is not limited to painting, but also tries their hand at music. Their band, Dobbs Dead, is famous for its dark country-folk sound and unique, homemade designer guitars. That is, the origins of the young style should be sought precisely in folklore.

They found the most suitable association for their tattoos in the fast folk dance - the polka. They saw in it a number of fundamental principles that applied to their own creativity. First of all, this is a pair dance, symbolizing their tandem of authors. He is also temperamental and demonstrative enough to be recognized throughout the world. Therefore, the combination of the realism of fiery dance with their abstract ideas in the field of graphics became a fairly compelling reason for such a perky name. The unusual combination of words succinctly characterizes the daring spirit of the currently popular trend.

Characteristic features of the style

The couple's various experiments with graphics and typographic design of newspaper clippings led to surprising results. The fruit of their creative labor was a style of self-expression that was rebellious in relation to public morality, and maybe even flashy. His aggressive and vulgar notes invariably provoke a reaction from the audience. Often it can be negative, but never indifferent. And this is exactly what the young emerging movement needed.

Many point to a certain decadence inherent in trash polka. Supposedly, skulls always carry heavy energy, and newspaper trash as a basis is initially unattractive. However, this is only a superficial look at the external expression of style. People forget that one of the main goals of the colorful movement was to challenge the glamorous society. To shake his moral foundations, to make him doubt them. If you like, this is a kind of author’s irony over the bourgeois world. A careless attitude to the topic of death, a combination of lapidary newspaper inscriptions with bloody roses and skeleton parts - all this is intended to express a protest against existing hypocritical standards. For example, when the government of a developed country declares concern for people, but continues to fight for resources in distant Africa. Therefore, the sardonic laughter and evil mockery inherent in skulls in trash polka have a completely objective basis. In a sense, these are life-affirming drawings in reverse.

The authors spent a long time painting each other's bodies to find the right contrast. And the combination of rich shades of red and black became the answer to their silent question. At the same time, the tattooists themselves are not limited to just the bloody range. In their works you can find carbonated orange, swamp green and many others. It was already popular rumor that ascribed a hard black and red concept to the style. The artists needed a red tone to express maximum contrast. That is, color in this case is only a tool for realizing an idea, and not an end in itself.

Another element of a contrasting tattoo style can be called a combination of realism and graphics. Together with the art of lettering, such images can eventually even border on fantasy. When beauty becomes a terrifying force that gives you goosebumps. This can be easily seen using the example of the same fallen angels. The use of light imagery is invariably combined with a repulsive aesthetic. These are crosses, pistols, barbed wire and other frightening things that are unacceptable to Puritan society. That is, everything that actually exists, but to which it is customary to turn a blind eye. These can also be characteristic images of animals, designed to evoke fear in the beholder: black crows, grins of pit bull terriers and other synonyms of horror. Excessive aggressiveness never stops trash polka tattoo artists. Moreover, they seek this maximum expression of thanatos to obtain catharsis. And red and black tones only enhance visual perception. To shock, to frighten, to suppress the will - all this is inherent in a powerful direction. The depressive coloring of most images is only a deceptive impression of the observer. Because the naked expression of an artistic message has the potential to be a big bang.

Characteristics of tattoo carriers in this style

We can safely say that there are no restrictions regarding gender here. Brutal tattoos look equally good on both men and women. Except that it will be difficult to imagine them on a child, since he has yet to learn the underside of this two-faced world. Often, provocative images are applied to the front of the body: chest, forearms, arms. However, due to the versatility of the colors and images used, any area of the skin can serve as a place for a tattoo. As for the size of the drawing, the same principle applies here: to cause cognitive dissonance in the viewer. That is, the more, the better. Based on this alone, one can judge the courage of the wearers of trash polka tattoos. Almost always these are strong and extraordinary people, ready to become a distorting mirror for a blinkered society. They deny generally accepted rules, insist on the falsity of existing values, etc. In this way, they not only scare the people around them, but also recognize their own unique essence and declare it for themselves. Despite the repulsive nature of the images used, tattoos in this style have enormous attractive power. Thanks to the combination of contrasting colors and stylishly drawn inscriptions, the designs look quite expensive. Therefore, the word “garbage” in the name of the style should not mislead anyone. It's just a metaphor.

Trash Polka tattoos are tattoos with their own special and unique explosive style. Trash Polka is considered a style of rebels, creative, thinking people who protest the system. Trash Polka tattoos are like collages that combine realism, text, poster illustrations, and abstraction with ink smudges. Often tattoos are imbued with a dark aesthetic with a predominant black color.

Such original execution, bright dynamic plots and a unique philosophy made the Trash Polka tattoo style popular first in Europe, and later on other continents.

Characteristic Features of Trash Polka Tattoo

First, let's look at the message that contains the name of the style.

Trash (from English Trash) - trash, something unpleasant, dirty. Thus, the authors of the style turned to reality, the perception of the world, without embellishment and illusions. At first, looking at a tattoo, you may feel uncomfortable due to the compositional workload. But the plots of the sketches make you look closely, think and unravel.

The characteristic features of Trash Polka include:

Collage drawing style.
The advantage of black as the main color.
Red, as an additional color, symbolizes blood.
Availability of fonts and slogans.
Blots, smudges, stains.
Poster stories.

Modern masters make some changes to the stylistic features, making them softer. For example, you can often notice that in addition to the contrasting colors of black and red, other colors are also added to the design.

Popular Places for Trash Polka Tattoo

Trash Polka sleeve
Trash Polka on the leg
Trash Polka

Tattoo Trash Polka Font

Basically, the font becomes an additional plot in Trash Polka style tattoos. But in some cases, it is the font that becomes the main dominant part of the composition. The font most often used is not calligraphic, as in many tattoos, but printed, poster. The style is also characterized by a combination of different, incompatible fonts, for example, printed and handwritten.

Combination of Trash Polka and Realism

It is not uncommon to see both of these styles in one tattoo. The Tattoo and Trash Polka styles complement each other. Realistic images help to further reveal the meaning of abstractions. And a bright collage plot becomes a good background for realism. This creates a memorable, original tandem of styles.

Men's Trash Polka Tattoos - Trash Polka Tattoos for Men

Trash Polka tattoos for men most often represent large, voluminous sketches that combine the main features of the style that we discussed above. The tattoo can be placed on the arm, back or chest. Typically, those elements that are made in the style of realism contain the main message of the tattoo.

Women's Trash Polka Tattoos - Trash Polka Tattoos for Girls

Girls who have chosen the Trash Polka style are unlikely to opt for a small sketch. The style implies a poster scale, immersion, and special emotionality. Therefore, in Tresh Polka women's tattoos not much different from men's.

Features of trash polka tattoo

IN trash polka tattoo secondaryness, junkiness, are expressed through deliberately bright, vulgar.

Most often, paintings are made in a range of colors. The tradition was started by Simone Pfaff and Volko Mershky. This is a married couple from. Both are masters.

A new style was developed at the end of the 20th century. The family of graphic designers did not do tattoos.

The husband and wife simply collected collages from newspaper clippings, the most banal ones, and put their own graphic masterpieces on top.

The result was mass culture, but turned inside out, that is, a protest against the mass consumer society.

Trash polka tattoo style It’s not for nothing that it contains the second word in the title. Both Simone Pfaff and Volko Mershky were fond of gypsy and German folklore, and therefore often used folk scenes for drawings.

An example is a gypsy with jet hair, all in . ladies ominously, reminds.

The symbolism of death is a characteristic feature of any trash polka tattoo. Sketches often contain , , coffins, bright , . The images are intended to shock and attract attention.

Trash polka tattoo style used by both men and women. The main thing is that a person is determined to go “against the flow.”

The direction of body painting allows you to make paintings of any size. The technique works both in miniature scenes and in those that occupy the entire body.

Popular trash polka sketches

Tattoos of the direction are characterized by a certain banter at life, even the lightest ones.

Thus, a popular sketch is in which the world and the beautiful creature are drawn in scarlet.

The paint drips off of God's creatures, giving the impression that they are wounded. In the center of the image is a pine cone.

It throws dark splashes in all directions. They fly to the dove with the butterfly, as if promising them an ambulance.

Trash polka tattoo meaning gives symbols of time. For example, a sketch with sand is relevant.

Instead of mineral granules, they contain blood. It splashes out of the capsule and seeps through it. Partially overlaps the regular sand dial.

It is stained with scarlet stains, it is difficult to make out the time. But two mourning flowers on the periphery of the picture indicate that it is clearly not enough.

Trash polka clock tattoo always presents it as a symbol of fleeting moments, imminent death.

The bleeding option is also popular, under which newspaper headlines about the benefits of certain pills are collected.

Girls often choose the image of a red-haired beauty with her back turned to a mirror smeared with blood.

They are circling around the witch-like lady. the maidens are directed towards the sky. The plot is a sinful path modern man, seeking to console only the flesh and obliged to pay for pleasure.

Ladies also often request Mickey Mouse. ABOUT cartoon character they resemble two round ones with a cute bow on one of them.

After, it begins trash polka tattoo. Photo The tattoo shows a skull instead of a mouse's face. He is wearing a gas mask.

The composition is complemented by scarlet circles and bloody smudges. What does this mean? There is no definite interpretation, but this does not prevent the film from “winning” more and more new fans.

This is an option for those who like the style of trash, but do not want to place any specific message on their body. The tattoo is spectacular, evokes emotions, but remains a mystery.

In addition to sketches with mass popularity, there are samples that are relevant among certain groups of people. For example, boxers pay for trash polka tattoo on arm, or

Doctors are interested in a sketch with, or, screaming in horror. It's like they're looking in a mirror.

Half of the face is distorted, peeling off, exposing the skull. Apparently this is the reason for the panic. On both sides of the face there are red crosses, the kind they put on ambulances.

Scarlet symbols are signs of the powerlessness of doctors in some situations, and powerlessness in the end. Having won several “battles,” Hippocrates’ servants still lose one day.

A certain hopelessness is the leitmotif of everyone in the trash polka style. Therefore, goths, rockers, and representatives of several other subcultures tend to choose such sketches.

“Bloody” drawings attract people prone to depression, or, on the contrary, cheerful people who deny everything and everyone.

Trash polka is a trend in tattoo art that is better to see once than to hear about it a hundred times. Tattoos made in the trash polka style are true works of postmodernism. Despite the fact that the style arose more than forty years ago, trash tattoos became popular only in last years. Experts admit: this is a separate direction in tattoo art, which has absorbed features of different styles.

In favor of the fact that trash tattoo is modern Art, several arguments testify. Firstly, it is incredibly difficult to find two identical tattoos, each is unique. Even if the incredible happens and two owners of identical tattoos meet, the issue can be resolved by contacting a tattoo artist. Trash polka tattoos can be complemented with current and fresh images.

Secondly, the conceptuality of the images. Sketches of tattoos in this style in the portfolios of famous artists are a guide to the world of modern pop culture: the grinning skull of Mickey Mouse, Madonna with cannabis, a pop idol with sunken eye sockets, etc. A series of recognizable images taken to the point of absurdity. Trash tattoos Polka is glamor on the contrary, a challenge to modern consumer society.

Trash is translated from English as “garbage”, polka is a cheerful dance. The merging of two different concepts gives a conceptual style. The drawings are layered one on top of the other, which gives a multifaceted effect. Anyone who takes the trouble to consider and explain the meaning of such a tattoo will see its meaning in it and give their own interpretation. The incompatible is combined (and here it is appropriate to recall a literary device called an oxymoron).

Thirdly, clear canons of this trend in tattooing have been formed. Tattooing is primarily a graphic art; trash polka style uses two primary colors – flashy red and bright black. Black predominates in the tattoo canvas, and red is an accent, a way to attract attention and emphasize details. The trash polka style is evolving, so combinations of black and rich blue have appeared.

The founders of this art movement were a couple of German artists who were inspired by the tattoos of NATO soldiers in 1973. They created collages from newspaper and magazine clippings and old photos, complementing them with graphic ink drawings. This technique has evolved and is now used by artists and tattoo artists all over the world to create original collages.

Trash polka tattoos are a creation of European culture, very exotic for representatives of other societies. A tattoo in this style looks unusual, colorful, and provocative. She can't help but attract attention. There are no clear canons on which part of the body to apply a trash tattoo to; it all depends on the imagination of the customer and the skill of the tattoo artist. As a rule, such tattoos are made large-scale, occupying most of the person’s area. Tattoos in the trash polka style are the choice of rebels, informal leaders and bright individualists who are not afraid to challenge society.

(from the English “trash” - garbage) is a style that can reflect the attractiveness of the most terrible things. It’s not for nothing that trash is literally translated as “garbage,” that is, something base, repulsive, something that people consider not worth attention, but not even worth being around.

But, like any art direction, tattoos have many styles, and like others, trash polka tattoos have a large number of followers. As a rule, these are those people who deny the banality, who are sickened by the rules imposed by society. And the desire to get a trash tattoo is not just a desire to tattoo unusual picture, this is another way to challenge society, to show that you're not like everyone else. Monotony away! Away with templates! Only drive, only trash!

“Trash” tattoos to the masses!

Yes, such styles of art rarely find public recognition, but often it helps “lost” people understand their essence and discover themselves. And when they ask to get a tattoo in the trash polka style, they seem to want to say: “I’m one of you! I understand what you are trying to convey!”

Trash polka symbols in tattoo

For many, the trash polka style is repulsive, but somehow has an internal attractive force. Despite the fact that it is usually expressed by impaling images that are quite unpleasant for the perception of an ordinary person, it has undoubted power over the mind. And people looking at a trash tattoo usually cannot understand their own feelings, assessing whether they want to utter a cry of admiration or rip it off the owner’s skin once and for all. It’s not for nothing that the images are made in red and black tones, which greatly enhance the perception.

As a rule, such tattoos symbolize terrifying images: death, decay, vulgarity, fear. That's why Only strong personalities can decide on such a tattoo, accustomed to standing out from the crowd. After all, they are carriers of the strongest images, possessing colossal power, capable of “opening eyes” to false values and empty formalities devoid of any meaning.