Trash polka tattoo designs. Trash Polka Tattoo - Style of Rebels and Innovators in the Tattoo World. What do trash polka tattoos mean?

One of the most popular trends in recent years remains trash polka tattoos. The success of this direction is such that people choose it, regardless of gender, age, income and social status. In fact, any person who is allowed to wear tattoos due to work, religion and traditions can become the owner of such an image on the skin.

The original name of this direction is Realistic Trash Polka Tattoos. This original direction was invented by Germans from the small town of Würzburg. It is difficult to say what exactly prompted the two Bavarian designers to create a new style, but they managed to create a successful project that has existed since the 90s of the 20th century.

The creators founded a tattoo club called “Buena Vista”, which was exclusively engaged in making pictures and inscriptions in the style of trash polka. This happened in 1998.

Lettering in trash polka style

If you break down the name, you get a rather strange combination. If with “realism” everything is still clear - realism, then why trash polka remains a question.

Thrash is rubbish, garbage, something brutal and dirty. That is, in simple terms – the unembellished, harsh everyday life of our lives. You won't have cute teddy bears and butterflies in your stomach. Because reality is murder, drug dealers on the streets, slums and other problems that humanity has been unsuccessfully trying to fight for hundreds of years.

Polka is a fast dance, characteristic of Europe, where the new style originated. It is this simplicity, lightness and speed that characterize sketches in the trash polka style.

The style began with newspaper and magazine clippings. This principle has been preserved in our time. Many of the pictures look like illustrations or collages of photographs. Therefore, inscriptions in the format of headlines and slogans are often used. Many believe that trash polka tattoos are a challenge to the established tattoo culture, and possibly to society as a whole.

Illustrations and collages from photographs with inscriptions in the format of headlines and slogans

In many, you can order beautiful and original sketches. If you don’t find a suitable option in the catalog, look at the photos on the Internet. There are many interesting examples. No, we do not advise you to copy existing works. They will just help you come up with something original.

The combination of white, black and red colors has become a tradition. In essence, this is the same “newspaper” format, excluding the use of full color. Almost always the drawings are quite realistic, but the detailing can be anything. In one part of the sketch there is volume, in the other there is only an outline. And these parameters can also change from art to art.

Trash polka tattoo black and red

What do trash polka tattoos mean?

Understanding the exact meaning of a trash polka tattoo can be difficult. Some drawings may have a metaphorical meaning, others should be taken literally. Among the owners of such tattoos there are very different people.

What does a triangle with an eye mean? For many people, this symbol is closely associated with secret societies such as the Freemasons. But he has much more ancient roots than those of free masons. In particular, it can be seen in Christian temples, as well as in older depictions of Judaism. For believers, this is a symbolic image of the eye of God, who always sees everything. There is nothing that goes unnoticed by him. After all, he is everything and is constantly at every point in the universe, every moment of reality, observing what is happening.

For some representatives of modern society, this is a symbol of “Big Brother”, which monitors every person, excluding any manifestation of freedom.

The next item often found in stories is a trash polka watch. They can be mechanical point, sand and even solar. If there is a skull next to it, then it is something like “”. That is, a reminder that we are all, unfortunately or fortunately, mortal. Therefore, it is worth living for today, and planning is often broken by the pitfalls of circumstances, incl. tragic. Time is the only resource that exists in the world that has real meaning. Because these are the moments of our lives. They cannot be bought or sold, and the expression “time is money” is the biggest lie created by people.

Trash polka tattoo with hourglass and swallows

Trash polka tattoo with a mechanical clock, a skull and a city with lanterns

Easiest to interpret:

Popular biker tattoos are wolf, bull, eagle, ;
Marine - anchor, ship with a sail, shark;
Musical - treble clef, sheet music, microphone, or guitar;
Feather, spider on a web or;

For such images, the meaning of a trash polka tattoo is easily determined. People try to show their adherence to the traditional views of their profession or subculture, or to show how they stand out from society.

There are also specifically male and. Given the nuances of style, it can be quite difficult to distinguish them from each other, given that there is no glamor. Before getting a tattoo, it is worth finding out its exact meaning.

Each trash polka tattoo can have a unique meaning, understandable only to the owner. If this is an individual task for the artist, simply describe the general meaning, message, and he will interpret the information within the framework of stylistics and his own execution technique.

Drawing areas

Where would a tattoo like this look best? Traditionally, most often it is done on the hand. The specific area depends on the size and shape of the sketch. Some look better on the forearm, some on the wrist (bracelet). Separately, it is worth mentioning the trash polka sleeve.

This term refers to large tattoos that cover either the entire arm from the shoulder to the wrist, or to the forearm, elbow, etc. At the same time, the image is applied in such a way that its details are located not only on the outer, but also on the inner surface.

Large drawings that are applied exclusively to the shoulder, or that begin in this area and end depending on the characteristics of the sketch, look interesting.

If the drawing is large enough, you can make it on the side or on the back. There are sketches that occupy the entire upper body, or the chest/back and arms. The part is used to move from the chest to the shoulder, or from the forearm through the shoulder to the collarbone area. Similar transitions are possible from the side, back, or stomach to the leg.

Modern technologies, such as Photoshop and 3D programs, have long made it possible to try on any tattoo in advance. If you don't have the necessary skills, ask a professional to do it for you. And don't say it's expensive. After all, interrupting a large-scale drawing is much more expensive.

Photo

Photo of a tattoo in the trash polka style, this style has existed for more than 30 years, it has everything!

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 are not much different from men's.

In tattooing, like any other fine art, 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 he 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 explorations into the world of tattoos began with them experimenting with unusual materials. 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.

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 about the sinful path of modern man, who seeks to console only the flesh and is obliged to pay for pleasure.

Ladies also often request Mickey Mouse. The cartoon character is reminiscent of two round ones with a cute bow on one of them.

After, it begins trash polka tattoo. Photo The tattoos show 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.

Tattoo on chest

Trash polka. You entered a tattoo parlor with the intention of getting something on your sleeve that will impress everyone passing by and will please your eyes for many years.

But your mood is decadent and you want to be closer to Western European culture. Simple cats and dragonflies will not work today, and the masters of ink and needle suggest choosing one of the currently trending styles - realistic trash polka.

Once you have decided on the direction, you can start drawing a sketch of the tattoo.

A little history of the thrash polka style

In the distant 2000s, a new style in tattoo art took shape into a single concept. Two artists, photographers, musicians and designers - Simone Plaf and Volko Mershek - having collected all their experiments into one, created a new direction and called it pathetically and non-conformist - trash polka.

Trash - “garbage”, “something terrible”, “disgusting”, something that does not fit into the framework. Polka is a popular folk dance in Eastern Europe, originating from Poland, fast, active, but endangered as a species.

Polka tattoo is about:

realism
beauty
combination of naive and protest
about withering and death
about the eternal, ..about love.

As the creators themselves say, this is a dance for two, this is what happens between art and body.

Features of the trash polka style

Trash polka, like a collage, combines realism, hackwork, typographic fonts, photographs, blots, paint drips, and pop culture symbols. But everything should have the effect of oppression, decay, with a flair of withering and death. The drawing combines the past, present and future; fictional and existing; important and meaningless.

The tattoos look monochrome. Gradients from light gray to black anthracite add dimension to the images. Black is the main color for this style.

Also typical is the use of:

black and red;
black and blue;
black and yellow;
black and red and yellow.

Red, blue, yellow - they shade some elements, they paint over certain places, like in a child’s “coloring book”, or they flow from the tattoo design like excess, something that did not fall into the frame.

The original combination of the main color and one or two additional ones is the hallmark of trash polka. Here you will not find polychrome, typical of pop art, or just black, as in ordinary contour tattoos. The completeness of the image is given by the volume and creative rethinking of everyday images, the philosophy of death and partly punk culture.

Subjects for tattoos

Polka trash style uses different images:

Surreal flowing clocks, or broken mechanical ones;
female, male, cartoon characters;
People (soldiers, babies, beautiful girls);
Animals (roaring lion, whining wolf, elephants or rhinoceroses);
Birds, flowers, objects, symbols;
, or even entire sentences.

You can even play up a cute panda by giving it a little fatalism and red color on its paws. For a panda tattoo, it’s not a problem to replay and make mortal aesthetics and philosophy.

A sketch for a polka trash tattoo usually takes hours to draw and look at. Each such image carries a huge semantic content.

Trash polka tattoo for men

Trash polka tattoo designs for the arm are carefully selected by the artist in the salon. The meaning of the tattoo, the meaning of drawings in the trash polka style, what they mean, the tattoo artist will tell you or put it in yourself.

Tattoos for girls

Tattoos are usually softer and more delicate, but not for the realistic trash polka style. There are no differences between women and men, there is only a difference between the thoughts and intelligence of the person who came to the salon to get a tattoo.

Girls and women stuff the same as men - crude, intricate skulls and technology, poignant social expressions and texts, photos of historical battles and heartbreaking images of disasters.

Trash polka is creativity in its purest form, where there is no place for platitudes. If these are delicate flowers, then they will still be crossed out with lines and blots.

Combination with realism

Polka trash is based on realism. Polka tattoos are drawn in compliance with the rules for creating volume, perspective and correct proportions (except if the drawing itself requires otherwise).

If a raven is depicted, then it will be a canonical bird with all its limbs and feathers.

If there are flowers, then in proportions and shape they can be compared with the same species from the herbarium. If there is a compass, then it is in the right direction.

Popular places for tattoos

Trash polka tattoos appear wherever your heart desires. Most often, tattoos are made on the arm - sleeve, wrist, on the forearm to the elbow in the décolleté area, on the back, stomach, and legs.