Photography by Lina Czerny.
Near Kottbusser Tor, huddled amid concrete structures and the piercing wail of sirens, lies Studio Linné. Behind its black-framed entrance gates, life flourishes: draped calla lilies, tall molucella flowers, and blossoming proteas. The term ‘urban jungle’ feels particularly apt here. Flowers spill from every corner, masking Berlin’s heavy metropolis air with the fragrance of a fresh meadow.
When owner Misha Todirascu speaks about flowers, her profound emotional connection to plants becomes clear. She fondly recalls her childhood in Moldova, where being surrounded by nature was part of daily life. She shares that she has a special bond with lilies – they are her favourite flowers, and their name closely resembles her mother’s name, Lilia. ‘In July, the whole house always smelled of lilies because it was her birthday,’ Todirascu reminisces. To her, flowers embody tenderness; she almost thinks of them as individual beings, with their own life cycles and personalities, which she seeks to capture in her work. ‘I often feel gratitude – it is an honour to work with something that holds such timeless beauty.’
Photography by Lina Czerny.
Photography by Lina Czerny.
During our visit to Studio Linné, we catch a glimpse of Todirascu’s daily routine. Even before opening, passers-by peek into the shop, the phone rings incessantly, and she briefly pauses to chat with her colleague, Sophia. Posing for our photographs, Todirascu exudes the same thoughtful intention that underpins her creations. She instinctively knows which branches complement certain blooms, how each arrangement should look, and how the shop’s presentation reflects her vision. Studio Linné frequently collaborates with fashion brands. While fashion and flowers may initially seem like contrasting fields, Todirascu explains: ‘Both industries touch people on a level that goes beyond the visual. When I combine flowers with fashion, I consider how the flowers can enhance the atmosphere and interact with the entire composition.’
Photography by Lina Czerny.
Through her projects, she brings a piece of nature into the urban world – most recently with an installation in Seoul featuring a moss-covered chair that made visitors feel as though they were seated in the heart of a forest. Asked whether her creations mirror nature or build a world of their own, Misha reflects: ‘Arranging flowers in unusual shapes or as sculptural compositions offers the viewer a glimpse of nature as they may have never seen it before. It is a new reality, inspired by an ancient one.’ With her work, Toridascu seeks to craft perspectives that surprise and inspire viewers.
In the back rooms of the small shop on Oranienstraße, something magical happens. Flowers cease to be merely flowers. ‘I think flowers have always been regarded as art – from the Japanese tradition of ikebana to the floral still lifes of Danish Golden Age painters,’ Todirascu explains. She also references the works of Xu Jiang, where contemporary art’s reverence for flowers is evident. Xu explores themes like resilience and collective memory through large-scale sunflower installations and sculptures. ‘I believe this recognition will only grow, especially when I see the curiosity and emotions of those who visit our studio every day,’ Todirascu concludes. Perhaps it is only a matter of time before Studio Linné is not only a store but also a gallery.
Photography by Lina Czerny.
As featured in SLEEK 83 – CALM. Available in print and digital here.