Taking viewers into Georgian graveyards, Sergey Stroitelev captures the headstones of Georgian Mafiosos for his grave photography series.
On a recent trip to Kutaisi, Georgia, Stroitelev began taking shots of lavish and marble-decorated resting places for some of the country's criminal circles. Kutaisi was the perfect place for these mafia heads according to the photographer, who says it was "the motherland of Georgian thieves in law."
The eccentric and expensive-looking, flamboyantly embellished graves show how these Mafiosos are respected and honored by the people who they acted like (illegal) benefactors for.
Stroitelev decided to capture the bizarre headstones after he came across a portrait of a man holding a cigarette with a hue star set in front of it. "Everyone in Russia knows that the star means someone was incredibly influential in the criminal world," says Stroitelev about the grave photography series.
Embellished Grave Photography
This Series Captures the Graves of Georgian Mafiosos
Trend Themes
1. Luxury Grave Decor - Capturing the trend of lavishly decorated graves for the wealthy and influential.
2. Criminals as Icons - Highlighting the trend of honoring notorious criminals as iconic figures in certain cultures.
3. Unconventional Memorialization - Showcasing the trend of unconventional and flamboyant ways of memorializing the deceased.
Industry Implications
1. Funeral Services - Opportunity for funeral service providers to showcase unique offerings for unconventional memorialization needs.
2. Luxury Goods and Services - Opportunity for luxury brands to tap into the trend of luxury grave decor.
3. Cultural Tourism - Opportunity for tourism industry to promote cultural tours featuring visits to graves of notable figures.