CORY REYNOLDS | DATE 3/30/2014

Soviets: Drawings by Danzig Baldaev & Photographs by Sergei Vasiliev

Featured image is reproduced from Soviets, FUEL's new collection of previously unpublished drawings by Russian Criminal Tattoo documentarian Danzig Baldaev and photographs by Sergei Vasiliev. The caption at bottom reads, "You’ve got to keep the plebs in constant fear and submission, make them work, and not overfeed them..." The text at top left reads: "The submissive, slave road to nowhere... (1917–1987)." The text on the chariot reads, "Those who have lost their sheepish meekness and obedience will be persecuted as enemies!" And the text on the bear's chest reads "NKVD" (Narodnyy Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del: the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs). The wolf, the bear and the fox are typical protagonists of many Russian folk tales. In this drawing, the bear is depicted as the 1980 Moscow Olympics mascot, Misha.