SABATO

Text:
Iris De Feijter
Photo:
Wouter Maeckelberghe

WHO? About twelve years ago, Mira and Valerii made their first paper flowers. Soon after, the couple founded Mio Gallery. At the time, they were still living in Kyiv. When they moved to Antwerp just over three years ago, they continued their “paper art” studio there. In addition to running a webshop with their own ready-made paper flower collection, they also create custom installations. They've worked for clients like Gucci, Guerlain, and the five-star hotel Botanic Sanctuary in Antwerp.

WHAT? An installation with extra-large poppies.
Mira: “Those are truly my favorite flowers. Especially because I managed to develop a technique to give the petals the right ‘crinkled’ look. They almost look real. I spent four years searching for the right way to achieve that fluffy look. Many try to imitate it. In vain. Even when Valerii tries, it looks slightly different. It's not some super advanced technology or anything. But I compare it to handwriting. No one can replicate it exactly.”

“Apparently, our intuition was right to come to Belgium with our paper flowers.”

INSPIRATION?
Mira: “I wanted to really exaggerate the beach flower tradition. I remember feeling very small as a child, and the world around me seemed gigantic. Buildings, adults, cars—everything felt enormous. I wanted to evoke that feeling. It gives a sense of magic because when you grow up, you completely lose that perspective.”

PROCESS?
Mira and Valerii mostly make their flowers by hand. Although over the years, they have developed various machines to help them cut the petals.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE TRADITION?
“When we arrived in Belgium and people discovered our work, everyone told us about this tradition. We had never heard of it before. But apparently, our intuition was right to come to Belgium with our paper flowers,” Mira laughs. “We also once went to the Belgian coast and saw the tradition with our own eyes. Though our two sons aren't entirely convinced yet. They prefer football.”