When creativity knows no bounds

Gabriel Chukro, artist, tattooist, and creator from Botkyrka, has always seen art as a way to express himself freely and playfully. When he got the chance to paint the doors at Subtopia, he wanted to create something that could both stand on its own and at the same time connect to the colorful portrait of Vincent van Gogh, painted by Cezary Kurmiel, which stands nearby.

“I wasn’t tied to any specific idea from the start,” Gabriel explains. “I wanted to create something that visually flows and sparks curiosity. It should be fun to look at.”
One of the works depicts a woman with lemons on her head, throwing up lemon juice—a free interpretation of the expression “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Instead of yellow juice, Gabriel chose playful colors like purple, orange, and bubbles. It’s a half-portrait with bold outlines that challenges expectations.

The second painting stemmed from a thought about eyes, a kind of contrast to the first door’s motif. Gabriel played with the idea of using many eyes instead of just two. He imagined several eyes in different colors staring back, which brought a sense of playfulness to the image. For him, it was about letting the picture grow organically, without forcing a specific message.