Marie Claire
Two giant paper flowers greet us at the studio of Mira and Valerii. Three and a half years ago, they settled in Antwerp to give their floral paper creations more breathing space.
“Our favorite flowers to work with are poppies and dahlias.”
Mira begins:
“We started with our paper creations twelve years ago in Kyiv, learning through trial and error. After some time, we were commissioned to create a few major installations there, including the framing for Gucci's new spring collection. Our flower arrangements were a perfect match for the season’s colorful fashion. Eventually, we landed in Antwerp, where we now feel completely at home. The business followed and has really been booming in recent years.
From here, we’ve decorated Qualcomm’s booth at the World Economic Forum in Davos and installed an impressive four-meter-tall floral arrangement for the opening of the Botanic Sanctuary hotel in Antwerp—a breathtaking sight!
Over the years, we’ve built a very loyal clientele. Yet, we still don’t employ any staff. As long as we can, we prefer to do everything ourselves. Not bad for two self-made individuals, right? We haven’t had any formal training but have always been artistically inclined. My husband and I both have a great love for craftsmanship. I handle all the technical aspects, while Valerii is the creative force behind the ideas.
One of our recent projects was an international event for Rituals in Amsterdam, attended by all their importers.”
Mio Gallery takes on almost everything related to paper flower compositions: window displays, exhibitions, hotel lobbies, photo shoot and fashion presentation backdrops, boutiques, children's rooms, private residences, and more.
“When it comes to more complex projects, we naturally start with a detailed discussion with the client to understand their expectations. After that, we create a proposal, send photos, or visit the site to assess the difficulty. For larger creations, the process, including installation, takes one to two months. Small private orders are completed within two days.”
Mira takes us on a tour of her workshop, which is packed with rolls and pallets of paper. Finished flowers are stored on the shelves and in boxes at the back.
“We always maintain a certain stock so we can respond quickly if needed.”
Mio Gallery
Kapucinessenstraat 53, 2000 Antwerp
Info: mio-gallery.com
Text by Etienne Heylen
