Author: lithops

Tania Stupnikova
Roots of Unease
Acrylic on canvas
30×30 cm
2025
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 195 EUR

I always try to show that no matter how scary or unsettling the imaginary world might seem, it’s probably still not as bad as some of the things reality throws at us. Who knows, maybe we should just take a vacation in a forest like this—it might even be better than certain places on Earth. And honestly, if you think about it, maybe we should start expecting something good to come from the “outside.” What if it’s not as bad or terrifying as we imagine? But here’s a thought: if you walk up to a little pine tree with an axe, planning to chop it down, take it home, and decorate it with tinsel, well… that pine tree might have a surprise for you. So yeah, maybe don’t bring an axe to the trees. 😉

Tania Stupnikova
Guests Befitting the Year
Acrylic on canvas
40×40 cm
2024
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 295 EUR

This work was a breakthrough for me. I’ve always believed that creating horror-themed art is perfectly fine. In fact, I love the genre. But at some point, inner barriers would stop me. It’s that “good girl syndrome,” where anything dark or unsettling feels “wrong.”
With this painting, I decided to break past that fear. It was an experiment, a chance to create not what’s “right,” but what truly inspires me. Here, I explored the balance between cozy and unsettling, familiar and frightening.
The figure outside the window is a symbol. For each viewer, it might represent a personal fear or challenge. It’s a reminder that sometimes, we need to confront the unknown.
For me, this is more than just a piece; it’s a step toward greater freedom—in art and in myself. Experiments like these often lead to new discoveries, and that’s the true magic of art.

Tania Stupnikova
Lessons of Happiness
Acrylic on canvas
60×60 cm
2024
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 695 EUR

In a faraway kingdom, eerily similar to our homeland, there was a war. People suffered and died, rights and freedoms were trampled, and the enemy relentlessly bombed peaceful towns and villages. People hid in basements and bomb shelters, and even school lessons were sometimes held in these underground shelters.
Those who lost their homes received little to no help and were living below the poverty line. Leaving the country was an option for only a few — only those who were not able to fight.
Then, the queen decided to help the children by introducing something called “Lessons of Happiness” in schools. She didn’t resettle the refugees, she didn’t feed the hungry, nor did she build new shelters. No, she thought the best solution was simply to teach the children how to be happy.
This painting is about that faraway kingdom, where a small creature hiding in a basement is being taught how to be happy. But happy mask won’t stay on their face. Because that’s not how we become happy. We are happy when we are free, when we are with our families, when we are safe…

Tania Stupnikova
The Land of the Free?
Acrylic on canvas
80×80 cm
2024
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 1195 EUR

At first, I envisioned this painting as an allusion to the war and its consequences. For people, it’s as natural to protect themselves and their families as it is for an octopus to live in the water.
But as I began studying octopuses to better understand their anatomy and behavior, I discovered that all octopuses sold as food are caught in the wild. Now, the fact that we need to eat other living beings is already a troubling reality, but when we’re capturing intelligent creatures to consume — that’s something we shouldn’t accept.
Octopuses represent an entirely different branch of evolution. Their intelligence is not like ours, and their way of perceiving the world is vastly different too. Yet, we don’t eat creatures like monkeys or dolphins, for instance. So, if a species is intelligent but distinctly “alien” to us, we somehow find it acceptable to consume them.
To me, this challenges the very idea of freedom — especially in a world where we talk so much about rights and liberties, while at the same time stripping them away from other beings.
I hope that anyone who looks at this painting will reflect on their impact on the world around them and understand how crucial it is to respect all forms of life — even those who can’t fight for themselves.

Tania Stupnikova
Sorry, I have nowhere to go home to
Acrylic on canvas
60×60 cm
2024
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 695 EUR

I often reflect on the themes of refuge and emigration. Changing your homeland makes you incredibly vulnerable.
I haven’t seen much art that delves into this topic, but it’s something that deeply concerns me. We will never be able to live the same life, even when the war ends, and we will never truly belong here, no matter which country we choose. We can never fully return; there will always be a part of another country within us, an awareness that another life is possible. Our cozy bubble has burst forever, and nothing will ever be the same again. Even when the war ends.
Luckily, I adapt quite quickly. I really like Slovakia and the Slovak people; their mentality is very close to mine. The city of Košice reminds me of the Kyiv of my childhood, the Kyiv of the ’80s, still green and not marred by total overdevelopment.
But a part of my heart will always remain in Ukraine.

Tania Stupnikova
After another global extinction or thank you for freeing the planet for us
Acrylic on canvas
80×80 cm
2024
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 1195 EUR

As a refugee from war, this issue is very personal to me. Fortunately, I haven’t witnessed the horrors firsthand, and my life remains largely intact except for my place of residence. My family is with me, my cats are with me, and nothing has been destroyed or lost.
Except for my pre-war life.
But my experience isn’t as traumatic as others, so I mostly worry about the larger-scale destruction, about my country. I understand the impact of war not just on people but on the land itself. On the environment, on animals, on entire ecosystems. I know that for many decades, perhaps even centuries, my homeland will be suffering.
This painting reflects my thoughts on what will happen if the war doesn’t end. Humans are not as resilient as we think; we depend on the earth, and we cannot afford to destroy it.

Tania Stupnikova
Take care of the cockroaches in your head
Acrylic on canvas
80×80 cm
2024
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 1195 EUR

In our culture, we often say that strange people have cockroaches in their heads. While this might have been an insult once, nowadays it’s used to highlight someone’s uniqueness. People often say you should love the cockroaches in your head, meaning that these quirks make you special, make you who you are.
I had painted a piece on this theme before, but I wanted to create a more refined version. This new painting also has a subtle message that another artist pointed out: after we’re gone, our cockroaches remain. In my case, they will stay through my paintings, but everyone has their own cockroaches, and they will remain in their own way.

Tania Stupnikova
And let the whole world wait
Acrylic on canvas
80×80 cm
2023
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 1190 EUR

The idea was to paint a beautiful horror without the slightest sense.
But no.
I’m probably tired of the endless horrors and anxieties in life that pour in from all sides. And I’m tired of work too – I adore painting, but the work that goes along with it kills me. Documents, submissions, correspondence, sending parcels… In fact, it’s even pleasant and exciting, but then autumn comes, and you want to stop. Sometimes you just need a little yellow duck – and let the whole world wait.

Tania Stupnikova
Rule of two walls
Mixed media (acrylic, watercolor pencils) on canvas
65×85 cm
2023
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 1190 EUR

Fortunately, these words usually mean nothing to ordinary people. Unfortunately, these words mean a lot to Ukrainians.
In our “soviet” buildings, when there are no bomb shelters (and there are none), then only the rule of two walls can save from a missile. Not always, not in every house – but usually. This rule works when the house has two concrete walls – the outer one and the one in the corridor. Then, if there is no direct hit, there is a chance to survive. Not after every projectile, but there is.
In some houses you can hide in the bathroom – in ours you can’t, in ours it’s a “box” that folds together with you.
So, in fact, a child can only hide in the world of his imagination. In a world where a monster will crawl out from under the bed and hide you from the hostile world.
This picture was created within the framework of the Ukrainian project “UnChildLike world”. We are currently looking for sites and opportunities. So the picture is not for sale yet, but you can order a print, or you can reserve a painting to receive it after the exhibition tour.