Mia Nel is a South African-born artist based in Hong Kong who creates art using an unusual yet fascinating material—sugar. In this interview, she shares how her journey across different cultures influenced her work and how a simple experiment during the pandemic became a meaningful creative practice. She talks about blending African and Chinese traditions, the beauty of things that don’t last forever, and why preserving culture and nature matters. Through her approach, Mia transforms something fragile into lasting art, making us think about what we choose to save and why.

Mia Nel is a South African-born, mixed-media artist based in Hong Kong. She has redefined her artistic practice by exploring the unexpected medium of sugar. She earned her graphic design and illustration degree before embarking upon a multi-decade design career, working mainly in London and Hong Kong. Since relocating to Hong Kong over a decade ago, her artistic journey has been profoundly shaped by exploring identity, culture, and the natural world using sugar as the primary medium. Initially focused on ink painting and brush calligraphy, she found inspiration in the ancient art of Chinese sugar painting. Born from a pandemic experiment, her recent work seamlessly blends her ink and brush techniques with preserved sugar sculptures. Mia reinterprets this ancient Chinese art form to invite viewers to contemplate beauty’s impermanence, preservation’s importance, and the interconnectedness of human culture and the natural world. Mia’s artistic journey has been marked by international acclaim, with exhibitions in prestigious galleries, high-end art fairs, and corporate settings across Asia. Her work has been recognized globally, as evidenced by her selection for the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours – 212th Exhibition in London Mall Galleries and her inclusion in the upcoming “100 Emerging Women Artists of 2024” book project.

1.  Your journey spans Africa, Europe, and Asia—how have these cultures shaped your identity as an artist?  

I’ve become a cultural hybrid, leading me to explore cross-cultural understanding through my art. As an expat living in Hong Kong, I’m constantly seeking belonging, I blend my African heritage with Chinese culture and finally between these 2 worlds, I found my home, that forms the canvas of my artistic expression. My upbringing in Africa instilled an understanding of art’s integral role in daily life – woven into rituals, storytelling, and even textiles. This foundation was further enriched during my time in Europe, where I explored the masters and museums, providing a valuable historical context. However, my move to Asia truly ignited my artistic drive. I was captivated by the richness of Chinese culture, so different from the Western perspectives I had encountered. Living in the Hong Kong jungle, surrounded by lush greenery and beaches, evoked strong memories of my South African childhood.

By blending the delicate beauty of sugar with the expressive power of ink, I create a visual language that bridges the gap between East and West.

Mia Nel

2.   What drew you to sugar as a medium, and how does it connect to your exploration of heritage and preservation?  

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 fascinating art of Chinese sugar painting, where molten sugar replaces ink. Intriguingly, my research also revealed sugar’s super power – 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. I delved into the science behind this, ultimately developing a method to preserve the sugar and create lasting pieces. This process became deeply connected to my exploration of heritage and preservation, taking something traditionally fleeting and making it enduring, reflecting the importance of preserving cultural traditions and memories.

3.   Your work blends traditional Chinese sugar art with modern preservation techniques—what inspired this fusion?  

Building upon the ethos of Ming dynasty sugar painting, in which molten sugar replaces ink, I combine sculpture, ink painting, and sugar traditions to produce object d’art, encased in resin, that both protects and cherishes 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.

4.  How does your art reflect the balance between impermanence and preservation, both culturally and ecologically?  

Sugar, my chosen medium, perfectly embodies this tension. Beautiful yet fragile, it can quickly melt or break if unprotected, mirroring the vulnerability of cultural heritage and the natural world. My sugar sculptures draw inspiration from cultural practices on the verge of being forgotten, highlighting the importance of preserving these traditions for future generations. Recreating these sugar traditions and keeping the sugar itself becomes a powerful metaphor for documenting, protecting, and transmitting cultural knowledge. Furthermore, sugar’s plant-based origins connect us directly to the environment.

The fragility of my sugar creations, particularly my recurring butterfly motif, symbolizes the vulnerability of our ecosystems. Butterflies, delicate indicators of environmental health, emphasize this connection. Just as a sudden ecological change can destroy sugar, it can damage fragile ecosystems. I want viewers to realise what is at stake — culturally and environmentally—and consider their role in safeguarding.

I want viewers to realise what is at stake — both culturally and environmentally—and to consider their own role in safeguarding.

Mia Nel

5.   Navigating life between Africa and Hong Kong, how do you express that duality in your sculptures?   

I use a lot of cultural symbols and patterns from Africa and Asia, reflecting my hybrid identity. By juxtaposing these elements, I aim to create a visual dialogue that celebrates the beauty of cultural exchange. My art reflects on navigating these two worlds, a testament to the power of embracing duality and finding harmony where cultures intersect. I want to show the beauty that arises from bridging divides.

6.  What do you hope viewers take away from your work, especially regarding cultural heritage and environmental awareness?

Ultimately, I want to showcase the beauty that emerges from bridging divides, fostering a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness and fragility of culture and nature. I hope my work sparks fascination, curiosity, and surprise, especially when viewers realize the unexpected nature of my medium—sugar. My art is a reminder that not everything is always as it seems.

Mia’s art is a powerful reminder that beauty doesn’t have to be permanent to be meaningful. By turning fragile material like sugar into lasting artwork, she makes us think about what we choose to hold onto and what we let go of. Her journey concerns more than just art—culture, connection, and finding beauty in change. Through her work, she invites us to see the world differently and appreciate the stories that shape us. To learn more about Mia, click the following links to visit her profile.

Arts to Hearts Project is a global media, publishing, and education company for
Artists & Creatives. where an international audience will see your work of art patrons, collectors, gallerists, and fellow artists. Access exclusive publishing opportunities and over 1,000 resources to grow your career and connect with like-minded creatives worldwide. Click here to learn about our open calls.