“Russian House 2026”: what we saw beyond our own stand

An interior exhibition lets you see not just furniture, lighting, finishes or decor, but how they interact with one another.

Colour, texture, light, proportion and scale come together into a single image of a space. And sometimes it is a detail, seemingly secondary at first, that gives an interior its character and sense of completion.

This theme is especially close to us. We create artworks from natural jute — sculptural, textured, tactile. What matters in our work is not only form and composition, but how the surface interacts with light and how the perception of texture changes with distance and surroundings.

For us, a painting is more than an image on a wall. It is an artwork in its own right, able to shape the atmosphere of a space.

One theme we keep returning to in our own work is the expressiveness of natural materials.

Jute appeals to us for its natural texture, restrained palette and its ability to create volume without excess ornament. It can look laconic and architectural, soft and organic, graphic and bold — it all depends on the composition and on how the material is handled.

We believe in an approach where a natural material is not disguised as something else, but allowed to reveal its own qualities.

We also see this as the potential of contemporary object art: not overloading an interior with details, but finding expression in material, rhythm, volume and the nuances of a surface.

In an interior, a painting is usually perceived visually first. A sculptural work changes that scenario.

Relief casts shadows, texture unfolds under different light, and the surface invites a closer look. An extra layer of perception appears — tactile, physical, almost intuitive.

That is why we call our works tactile art.

We enjoy creating objects that do not compete with the architecture of a space, yet do not dissolve into it either. They can become an accent, support the materials and shades of an interior, or set a rhythm of their own.

We also feel it is important that art does not exist apart from the project. It should enter into dialogue with it — with the architecture, furniture, lighting and the person who will live or work in that space.

For BABЁNKI, taking part in the exhibition is not just a brand presentation. It is also a chance to be part of the professional community, share experience and find new common ground with designers and architects.

When working on an artwork, we take the specific interior into account: its scale, colour palette, materials and overall mood. Most pieces are made to order, and a preliminary visualisation helps to picture the future composition in the space before production begins.

That is why dialogue with designers matters so much to us: art becomes part of the project not at the last moment, but as part of the overall concept.

The exhibition gave us a chance not only to talk about our approach, but also to see the solutions other participants offer, how they work with form and materials, and how they see the contemporary interior.

“Russian House 2026” became an experience for us that cannot be reduced to simply taking part in an exhibition.

We came to present BABЁNKI and left with new acquaintances, impressions and food for thought about our own work. Events like this help us see our everyday work from the outside, place it in the context of the industry and once again put into words what truly matters to us.

We believe an interior is made not only of functional solutions and beautiful objects. Its character is born from details, materials, light and objects with an author’s idea behind them.

And we want to keep creating exactly such works — artworks in which natural material becomes an artistic language, texture gains meaning, and art takes its rightful place in the interior.

BABЁNKI is a studio of jute interior art. We create sculptural, tactile works for private and public spaces, collaborating with designers and architects.