Lakatamia, Cyprus. A mural on the wall of a family home in Lakatamia commemorates Lex, a cat poisoned near his home earlier this year. Created by Nicosia artists Tashi Stylianou and Sascha of Jewel of Space, the artwork has drawn neighbours and passersby into discussions about animal poisonings in Cyprus.
Artwork created as a personal tribute
Lex’s owner, Costa, said the idea began after he and his daughter noticed the cat’s paw prints on a garden wall shortly after his death. “We tried to paint them into permanence so that time would not wash them away,” he said. “That became the idea of a graffiti, and then I found Tashi. It was karma, I guess.”
Mural details and location of death
The mural depicts Lex looking directly towards the street, surrounded by soft colours and botanical textures. Around his neck is the GPS tracker that helped the family discover where he had died, only metres from home.
“What really stayed with us was the fact that Lex was poisoned only around 20 metres from his home,” Stylianou said. “It gave the whole story a very unsettling feeling.”
Wider attention to poisonings
What began as a private memorial has prompted conversations among neighbours, passersby and animal lovers about the pain caused by animal poisonings and how often such incidents go unnoticed. Stylianou said both artists immediately connected with the project because of their love for animals and because poisonings remain common in Cyprus.
Have you seen animal poisonings in your area, and how are they being addressed?