What Niletto’s Bold Tattoos Really Mean
The newsroom highlights the performer’s milestone while discussing the imagery behind his tattoos.
Star singer Niletto (Danil Prytkov) is known not only for his hits but also for his vivid style. His memorable image is complemented by numerous tattoos on his body.
Today, 1 October, the artist turned 34. To mark his birthday, E1.RU decided to find out what Niletto’s designs mean and asked Yekaterinburg tattoo artist Nikita Sushkov, who has worked in tattooing since 2011, to assess his pieces.
«It’s clear the guy is in the process of creating his image — he is getting tattoos, and the final picture, unfortunately, isn’t visible yet. He has old and fresh tattoos, and such changes in quality and style are quite noticeable. The guy got money, he found a master he’s on the same wavelength with,» explained Nikita Sushkov.
Nikita Sushkov inks and restores tattoos in various styles and also sources and sells cars.
He got his first tattoo at 21, but now he doesn’t know how many he has on his body. The snowflake on his neck is one of Niletto’s most visible and recognizable tattoos. The artist himself has said he got it to free himself from office work. A similar tattoo appeared on his kneecap, which supports the expert’s remark that the Urals native is «in the process of creating his image».
«The strange dark tattoo on the neck — as I understand it, it’s old. We don’t know the final version of what he has planned, so we’ll watch. But visually it draws a lot of attention, distracting from the face,» the master added.
An earlier photo shows Danil Prytkov before getting extensive body art.
The snowflake neck tattoo has become one of Niletto’s most recognizable features.
The number of tattoos on the performer’s body has steadily grown over time.
According to the tattoo artist, the performer still has plenty of space on his body where new tattoos can appear. At the same time, almost all the work Niletto has already had done is in visible places: «His arms are fairly empty and he has many tattoos in conspicuous places. He has his own vision in clothing and in music. So I think it complements him in a cool way. He makes his own impression on other people in this special way,» explained Nikita Sushkov.
Many of his designs are placed prominently on highly visible areas of the body.
The artist himself admitted on Pavel Volya’s show that getting a face tattoo is not connected with courage but with how “crazy” you are. He also joked that he had the inscription on his forehead inked so barbers would find it easier to give him a good haircut.
Niletto has added several face tattoos, expanding his distinctive aesthetic choices.
On Niletto’s body you can find many tattoos done with a cosmic theme in an ornamental style. The musician’s chest is adorned with characters from his favorite childhood cartoons — the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Optimus Prime. He calls them «the army of good».
Danil Prytkov is enthusiastic about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters from childhood.
Niletto collaborates with a dedicated tattoo artist for his ongoing body art.
You can also find Krokodil Gena and Cheburashka (Soviet cartoon characters) on his torso.
Under the left wing motif appear Krokodil Gena and Cheburashka, beloved Soviet-era characters.
According to the Yekaterinburg master, tattoos are often linked to certain wonderful events in life. One of Niletto’s, for example, is on the back of his neck and means “home”. He had it inked after he bought his mother property in Moscow, when he received his first big fee.
One design commemorates buying a home for his mother, symbolizing the meaning of “home.”
There are also tattoos that carry no deep meaning. The artist has always loved Disney cartoons, so he tattooed Mickey Mouse on his middle finger.
«It’s cute when there’s Mickey Mouse on your middle finger — you don’t wonder whether someone will be offended or not. In general, tattoos are elements of beauty; I come up with them myself,» Niletto said.
Niletto also sports a large Naruto-inspired tattoo prominently placed on his arm.
Most of Niletto’s tattoos are done in black. Later he began adding color: mint green, white, and one piece done in red (which he himself periodically forgets about).
«As a master I don’t like doing white tattoos, because over time they look less like tattoos and more like scars,» the expert explained.
Many of his pieces explore cosmic themes executed in an ornamental graphic style.
The performer’s back features an extensive composition influenced by cyberpunk aesthetics.
There are numerous color accents among predominantly black tattoos across his body.
According to the tattoo artist, all the works emphasize Niletto’s good physical shape.
«He works on his body, and the designs emphasize the muscular directions. For example, on the shoulder these circles are fitted well. At the same time, if you see a person with a good figure and tattoos, it doesn’t mean he simply has cool tattoos. In the end, both the tattoos and the physique adorn the image, so copying someone’s tattoos isn’t always a good idea — it’s better to create something of your own that suits you,» explained Nikita Sushkov.
The placement and lines of the tattoos accentuate Niletto’s athletic physique.
It’s impossible to say exactly how much money the artist has spent on tattoos all over his body. Nikita Sushkov explained that, if you exclude possible discounts and barters that masters may have offered the singer, on average everything could cost about 200–250 thousand rubles (approximately $2,000–$2,500 at current rates).
«Judging a person’s taste in tattoos is a little wrong, because it’s a manifestation of self. He likes it, he enjoys it, and he can afford to do it,» the tattoo artist concluded.
* The social network is banned in the Russian Federation.
Niletto’s teacher from Yekaterinburg admitted that she scolds the star for his tattoos. At school, she says, he had only studies on his mind.
Also read E1.RU’s interview with Niletto’s father about a difficult relationship with his son and his desire to see grandchildren.
