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Tania Stupnikova
TRESPASSERS W
Mixed media (acrylic, watercolor pencils) on canvas
75×75 cm
2023
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 788 EUR

The image of a wasp devouring a UFO came to me by itself. I am actually very afraid of wasps, but I find them to be very strange and beautiful creatures.
Sometimes horrors are senseless, I don’t like them – it’s usually all mystical and otherworldly. I don’t see the point in it, so I’m bored and I don’t like it. But I really like horror stories about predatory animals – from a ferret to an Alien. Because I understand their logic. In addition to wasp. Some kind of evil and unpleasant insect – it does not like you and stings simply because of a bad mood.
At first, I thought that the wasp would be bad for me.
And then she drew and thought about it – after all, it seems that they are her children, and she protects them. I didn’t think like that when I was painting, but it turns out that way. Often in paintings, the subconscious takes over. So I believe that the wasp in the picture is protecting its babies.

Tania Stupnikova
What happens in a fairy circle – stays in a fairy circle
Mixed media (acrylic, watercolor pencils) on canvas
65×85 cm
2023
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 774 EUR

This abandoned and neglected place is not and should not be a refuge for magical creatures. They lived in their own home, but the disaster drove them out of native place, forcing them to seek shelter. Here they are trapped, cut off from their natural environment.
A swamp witch is standing on a magic stone, focused on summoning magical powers. Forest creatures have gathered around her, they look at the viewer with hope – this is how a street cat looks, who wants to believe that you are the one who will shelter her.
But usually such hopes are in vain.
I wanted to remind about the insurmountable difficulties faced by any creatures separated from their roots and lineage. At the same time, I wanted to show that hope for external help is as futile as the hopes of these creatures.
But I believe that on their own they will surely succeed – one way or another, with or without magic, they will return home – or bring their home to wherever fate has taken them.
If you want to hide them in yourself – write to me.

Tania Stupnikova
Spaghetti Monster Bathing
Acrylic on canvas
75×75 cm
2023
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 774 EUR

I consider Pastafarianism to be the most exciting religion in the world. It is a “parody” religion founded by Bobby Henderson in 2005 in protest against the Kansas Department of Education’s decision to introduce the concept of “intelligent design” into the school curriculum as an alternative to the teaching of evolution.
The Commandments of the Flying Noodle Monster are called the “Eight “Thou Shalt Not Do This”, and they are truly the most humane and tolerant commandments in the world (in the “new” testament they are slightly different, but still beautiful). If you haven’t already, read them and there will be one more Pastafarian in the world.
The picture is written instead of what we had to leave behind in Ukraine when we fled the war. But the opportunity to celebrate the Flying Macaroni Monster is important, so I paint one more. ))))
For the glory of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Ramen!

Tania Stupnikova
Eva, open the door!
Acrylic on canvas
55×55 cm
2023
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 424 EUR

When I see a new picture in my mind’s eye, most of the time I’m pushing off something in real life. Sometimes it’s the little details that spark my imagination.
We were returning from tutoring and my daughter saw a plant behind the translucent doors of the house. Look, she says, how it looks like some alien monster!
I looked – and really!
I think: I must draw it, this monster!
I reasoned for a long time, twisted it this way and that way, but in the end the monster did not turn out. It turned out Eve and a slightly different story. Like the real Eve, she appeared almost out of nowhere and began to live her own life. She even made a decision for all of humanity.
I will put a photo of the same plant at the end of the carousel, so you can take a look. )))))

Tania Stupnikova
Waiting for Gerda
Acrylic on canvas
65×85 cm
2023
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 774EUR

Ray Bradbury has an incredible story Referent, where the alien constantly changes form, and maybe even essence, under the influence of the characteristics that the hero gives him. Since childhood, I felt so sorry for that alien, because he has no form and name, he just is, he does not want to be something that others see him as.
I feel my paintings as that alien. Yes, I put a part of myself in them, but I want them to live their own lives. So I will not explain how to understand the picture.
But the creation story is something else, I can share that. I came up with this picture when I was listening to a song about the fact that fairy tales are not what they seem. So I thought the Snow Queen’s castle might be a little different too. And there may be many beings who could not gather the word “Eternity”. Now only Gerda can help them…

Tania Stupnikova
Reality Stitchers
Acrylic on canvas
65×85 cm
2023
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 774 EUR

In this work, I present a world on the verge of chaos. The dense forest is covered with a carpet of fallen leaves, as if nature itself is in disarray. But amid the decline, hope appears in the form of mysterious aliens who will be able to put order in what is happening. They flew to us to restore balance and order.
If I think about it, it is very sad that I can no longer see a solution without outside intervention. But my subconscious reminds me that even in the darkest of times, help can come from unexpected sources. When logic is powerless, mysterious creatures may appear whose purpose is to stitch together a torn reality. Pay attention to their tails. )))

Tania Stupnikova
Cactus Anton and fishing
Mixed media (acrylic, watercolor pencils) on canvas
65×85 cm
2022
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 774 EUR

They say that portrait artists always paint themselves – no matter who they paint. The artist’s features can always be found in the faces he paints.
I think you can also find me in each of my works.
Now I live in a beautiful country where people are very kind and pleasant. The ecology here is wonderful, we settled in perfectly. We can say that we live better than before the war – in fact, like in a resort.
But I still feel like a stranger – wrong, clumsy, illogical…. I don’t always understand my own feelings and I don’t really know what to do with it.
I think this is how the hero of my last painting feels. It is in a beautiful, magical place. But that is not his world, and he is superfluous in it. He is redundant for now, because he is learning. And everything will definitely work out for him.
And the cactus, I think, symbolizes a piece of home, our own world, that we carry with us. And it actually exists, it’s my daughter’s cactus. And she actually calls him Anton. ))))

Tania Stupnikova
Way station
Acrylic on canvas
100×70 cm
2022
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 980 EUR

At first it was just an imagine. Some kind of theater of the absurd, which I almost dreamed – like a hotel corridor, and there are two big smart caterpillars with a bunch of things, suitcases, a box, a cage and some other animal on a leash. But they are not in a hotel, but as if it were a teleport and they are moving to Earth.
Which is quite logical, because such nonsense is happening here, I would come myself to be a smart caterpillar. )))) That’s covid, then the war, then it’s not known at all. Apparently, the aliens were interested. They say that UFOs have been seen in Kyiv several times. They write both in the news and in chat rooms.
And then the picture took on a life of its own. It is lighter than it was in my imagination, the second caterpillar did not get in, and I hid the first one behind my helmet, because people, they are so prejudiced against other creatures.
As for the cage, it turns out I hate cages. None. So it can be assumed that I see myself in that bear. I don’t want to be in a cage, and I’d be happy to leave Earth, too, but where the hell is that teleporter? )))))

Tania Stupnikova
Emerald children
Acrylic on canvas
45×60 cm
2022
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 290 EUR

They were simply born and wanted to be. Like at a wedding – something new, something old, something blue.
I live on.
Today, my entire feed consists of these words: I live on. I allow myself to live. I allow myself to be happy. I allow myself to create something new. And this new will not be ruins, it will be something strange and sophisticated.
I no longer want torn strokes, wounds on the body of reality – I do not want to see it and I do not want to paint it. I want to paint the beauty and limitlessness of my worlds. Let them be born, not die.

Tania Stupnikova
How fast do you arrive?
Acrylic on canvas
50×60 cm
2022
Košice, Slovakia
Price: 290 EUR

The feeling of home for us is now lost forever, lost on February 24. Even those of us who can return home will never feel safe. Will never be able to be sure of tomorrow as long as there is evil nearby…
So this is not the world that exists today, the surreal world of our thoughts, memories and dreams. I draw this world to reality, I try to feel it, see it and come back.