Tania Insomnia

Born in Transit, Between Cultures

I was born during a weekend near the Baltic Sea on a train, but officially registered in Potsdam. I spent my early years in Germany but grew up in Ukraine. Perhaps that's why I’ve always felt drawn to the in-between — thresholds, fragile boundaries, the liminal space — which deeply inspires my art.

A Childhood Full of Sound

I grew up in a creative family: my father played guitar, my mother painted and played the piano. Sound became my first way of perceiving emotion. In this environment, I learned to catch subtle nuances — things not said directly, but resonating between the lines.

The Beginning of My Artistic Path

I am self-taught. My artistic journey began in the early 2000s with pencil portraits. From the start, I was more fascinated by capturing someone’s inner world than simply recreating appearance. My goal has always been to express the unspeakable: emotion, presence, silence, pain, strength, vulnerability, solitude, openness.

Materials as a Language of Emotion

One day, on a shopkeeper’s advice, I tried charcoal — and it became my main medium. Charcoal allows me to create bold, dramatic, yet incredibly delicate forms. It conveys passion, fragility, emotional intensity, the unspoken. L...

General Secondary Education