Zakarpattia through the eyes of Ukrainian artist Marina Stognieva
Picturesque Guide to Ukraine
Zakarpattia through the eyes of Ukrainian artist Marina Stognieva
“Mountains, historic towns, wooden churches, the sound of the trembita and living traditions — Zakarpattia has a rhythm of its own, one that invites you not only to see it, but to feel it.”
Zakarpattia in painting: the Carpathians, people, folk traditions, towns and historic places.
Discovering Ukraine
Zakarpattia — the land beyond the Carpathians
Zakarpattia is a land of mountains, historic towns and living traditions. Here the Carpathians descend into valleys, wooden churches appear among green hillsides, and the streets of Mukachevo and Uzhhorod preserve traces of different historical eras.
Here the connection between nature and everyday life can be felt almost everywhere: a shepherd on a mountain meadow, the sound of a trembita, a spring round dance, an embroidered shirt, an old castle, a city in bloom. It is from these individual images that a painted portrait of Zakarpattia begins to emerge.
Future Publication
Zakarpattia on the pages of the future book
Images of Zakarpattia are gradually moving from paintings onto the pages of the “Picturesque Guide to Ukraine”.
A spread from the future book “Picturesque Guide to Ukraine”, dedicated to Zakarpattia
Painting Collection
Original Paintings of Zakarpattia
Below are paintings by Marina Stognieva created for the Zakarpattia section of the “Picturesque Guide to Ukraine” project. Through them, the region unfolds through the Carpathians, its people, folk traditions, towns and historic places.
Voice of the Carpathians
“Trembita. Call of the Carpathians”
Oil on paper
The figure of a trembita player among the mountains transforms the ancient instrument into the voice of the Carpathian landscape. Its sound seems to travel across slopes and valleys.
A spring round dance beside a wooden church conveys a living tradition of welcoming spring through movement, song, embroidered clothing and a shared circle.
The history of Zakarpattia developed at the crossroads of different states and cultures. Ukrainian, Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Jewish and other traditions have left visible traces in the region’s architecture, cuisine, languages and everyday life.
Trembita — the Voice of the Mountains
The trembita is a long wooden wind instrument of the Carpathians. Its sound can travel over great distances through the mountains, so historically it was used not only for music, but also to send signals across valleys and highland pastures.
The Artist’s Personal Story
My First Zakarpattia. Mukachevo
I was born in the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine, so my first journey to Zakarpattia felt like a real encounter with the opposite side of my country. I first visited Mukachevo when I was eighteen. I have remembered the city ever since.
What struck me in Mukachevo was not modernity, but the sense of preserved time. It seemed as though the city existed in several eras at once: in its old façades, architectural lines, squares and streets, something remained of the Europe I had previously seen only in photographs.
At that time I had never been abroad, so for a young woman from eastern Ukraine it felt almost like entering another world — unfamiliar, beautiful and slightly fairytale-like. I found it extraordinary that all of this existed within the borders of the same country.
About the Art Project
“Picturesque Guide to Ukraine”
“Picturesque Guide to Ukraine” is a large-scale original project by Ukrainian artist Marina Stognieva, dedicated to the different regions of the country.
The project is also developing into a future book in which painting will be combined with stories of places, cultural and historical information, interesting facts and personal observations.
Collecting Art
Original Paintings and Collectible Fine Art Prints
Availability of a selected original artwork and information about purchasing it can be confirmed directly with the artist.
For many paintings, a collectible fine art print signed by the artist can also be ordered. Size, material and other details are arranged individually.
The book direction of the “Picturesque Guide to Ukraine” project is currently in development. The artist is considering proposals for its future publication and is open to collaboration with publishing houses, cultural institutions, partners and art patrons.
If you are interested in the preparation, partnership or publication of the book, please get in touch directly to discuss possible forms of collaboration.
Explore Ukraine
Continue the Artistic Journey
Discover other regions of the large-scale original project “Picturesque Guide to Ukraine”.
Art Purchases, Partnerships and Future Publication
Contact the Artist
To purchase an original painting, order a collectible fine art print signed by the artist, support the project or propose a collaboration, contact Marina Stognieva directly.
The project is also open to discussions regarding the future publication of the book and partnerships with publishing houses, cultural institutions and art patrons.