Sweet Preservation: An Interview with Mia Nel
South African-born, Hong Kong-based artist Mia Nel redefines traditional mediums with sugar, resin, and ink. In this interview, she shares how an unexpected pandemic experiment led to a globally recognized practice that bridges cultures and invites reflection on beauty, identity, and preservation.
🔗 www.mianel.com
What inspired you to begin working with sugar as an artistic medium?
My journey with sugar started unexpectedly, as a pandemic-era experiment. My kids' request for cookies led me down a rabbit hole of sugar exploration. It became a therapeutic outlet during that stressful time, evolving from cookie-making into a captivating art form. Each piece became more detailed, less about food and more about artistic expression.
During this exploration, I discovered the captivating art of Chinese sugar painting, where molten sugar replaces ink. Intriguingly, my research also revealed sugar's superpower – its resistance to spoiling. This sparked a desire to push the boundaries of the medium. Knowing traditional sugar art is ephemeral, I wanted to create more permanent works, harnessing sugar's preservative qualities.
How did your background in graphic design and calligraphy influence the sculptural work you’re doing now?
My background as a graphic designer is fundamental. I've always relished experimenting with shapes and patterns digitally – a skill I really honed during those design years. When a concept starts to take shape on the computer, I see it as a blueprint. The process then involves translating that digital vision into a three-dimensional sculpture. It's much like constructing a complex puzzle, where I meticulously piece together each element to bring the initial idea to life. There's a real sense of precision involved, a careful consideration of form and structure.
Before working with sugar, I was deeply involved in ink painting with a Chinese brush. So, applying a medium I already knew well to sugar felt like a natural progression. It was a way to extend my existing artistic vocabulary into this new, incredibly exciting territory.
Can you tell us more about the cultural significance of Chinese sugar painting and how you’ve reinterpreted it?
Chinese sugar painting is a truly captivating art form, with its roots in the Ming Dynasty. Traditionally, it involves using molten sugar to create these incredibly delicate, ephemeral sculptures – often depicting animals, flowers, or mythical figures. It is a street art, a performance, really, with the artist working quickly and skillfully. There's a beautiful fragility to it, a sense of transience... and the delightful fact that you get to eat it!
I combine traditions of sculpture, ink painting, and sugar to produce objets d’art, encased in resin, that both protect and cherish the brittle beauty of the art form. Traditional Chinese sugar art captivated me with its intricate detail and delicate nature, yet its inherent ephemerality sparked a desire to reinterpret it for a modern audience. I wanted to create something durable and lasting—a challenge that required me to blend traditional artistry with modern science.
What does sugar represent for you in your work—both practically and symbolically?
Sugar, for me, is a medium of fascinating duality. It's both incredibly practical and deeply symbolic.
On the practical side, it offers a unique versatility. I can control its different states, from a clay-like texture to an almost fluid paint, allowing for intricate detail and a surprising degree of control. As I delved into its properties, I discovered its preservative qualities, which are essential to my process. So, it presents this wonderful paradox: a material that appears so delicate is, in fact, remarkably enduring.
Symbolically, sugar has become my therapy during stressful times and the catalyst for this incredible journey of discovery—this whole new world. It can evoke sweetness and joy, but also a sense of transience—much like memories, or even life itself. In my work, it becomes a potent metaphor for the delicate balance between permanence and impermanence, and for the vital importance of preserving what we hold dear, whether it's a cultural tradition, a fleeting moment, or a fragile ecosystem. It's a reminder that even the most vulnerable things can be made to last with the right care and attention.
How do you approach blending your South African roots with your life in Hong Kong through your art?
My upbringing in Africa instilled in me a deep understanding of art's integral role in daily life—woven into rituals, storytelling, and even textiles. However, it was my move to Asia that truly ignited my artistic drive. I was captivated by the richness of Chinese culture, so different from the Western perspectives I had encountered. Interestingly, living in the Hong Kong jungle, surrounded by lush greenery and beaches, evoked strong memories of my South African childhood.
Because I use a lot of cultural symbols and patterns from both Africa and Asia, my art reflects my own hybrid identity. By juxtaposing these elements, I aim to create a visual dialogue that celebrates the beauty of cultural exchange. It's a personal reflection on navigating these two worlds, a testament to the power of embracing duality and finding harmony where cultures intersect. Ultimately, I want to show the beauty that arises from bridging divides.
Your sculptures are both beautiful and conceptually rich. What do you hope viewers feel or think when encountering them?
I hope viewers experience a sense of fascination, curiosity, and surprise when encountering my work. Using sugar as a medium is unconventional, and I'm proud to have pushed creative boundaries by creating permanent art with such an unexpected material. I love seeing that look of surprise and disbelief when people discover the true nature of my sculptures.
Beyond that initial attraction, I hope the work prompts a deeper reflection on the themes I'm exploring: the fragility and resilience of both culture and nature, the fleeting nature of beauty, and the importance of preserving what is precious. Ultimately, I want my art to be a reminder that things are not always as they seem.
What are you currently working on, and where do you see your sugar-based practice evolving next?
I'm currently working on new pieces for upcoming art fairs in Hong Kong and Taiwan—a new "Flowering Branches" series that's taking my sugar work to a new level. It's almost like paper cutting, but with sugar, and this series allows me to explore fragility and strength with larger, more complex sugar structures. I'm also experimenting with light and shadow to create a more immersive experience.
I dream of showing my work outside of Asia, especially to see how Western audiences respond to its fusion of cultural influences and which elements resonate with them. Looking ahead, I see my practice evolving through collaborations. I'm planning a show in South Africa alongside my mother and grandmother—three generations of women artists.
The exploration of cultural narratives will remain central, using sugar to tell stories of identity and interconnectedness. Ultimately, I aim to keep pushing the boundaries of this medium to create art that resonates deeply.
🌐 Learn more about Mia Nel and her work at www.mianel.com
📍 Based in Hong Kong | Originally from South Africa
