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Preserved Sugar Sculptures - my unexpected canvas
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Mia is a South African born artist based in Hong Kong. She has redefined her artistic practice by exploring the unexpected medium of sugar. She earned her degree in graphic design and illustration 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 an exploration of identity, culture, and the natural world using sugar as primary medium. Initially focused on ink painting and brush calligraphy, she found inspiration in the ancient art of Chinese sugar painting. Born out of 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 the impermanence of beauty, the importance of preservation, and the interconnectedness of human culture and the natural world.
Rooted in my personal journey between Africa and China, I employ sugar, as my primary medium alongside ink painting. With my technique of preserving sugar sculptures with intricate ink brushwork, I've created a space navigating between two cultures.
Unlike traditional sugar art, which is ephemeral and edible, my sculptures are preserved by combining traditional techniques and inspiration with modern preservation methods. My innovative approach elevates sugar art to the status of enduring objects d'art, challenging the perception of its limitations.
Sugar, a natural preservative, has been used for centuries to keep things from spoiling. I take advantage of this and formulated a sugar-based paste specifically for sculpting to create thought-provoking sculptures with intricate details painted using archival inks. Inspired by Chinese sugar painting, my work is a modern twist on tradition.
Inspired by the importance of preservation, and the interconnectedness of human culture and the natural world.
Portfolio
My bulldogs are a tribute to everyone who has lost a pet. The fragility of porcelain mirrors the fleeting nature of life reminding us to cherish every moment. While sugar, a natural preservative, symbolises the enduring bond between humans and their pets.
Hong Kong is not solely a concrete jungle. After relocating to the outskirts I was surrounded by lush nature, captivated by the abundance of butterflies. These living bouquets echoes the butterfly effect, highlighting how small changes, like relocating, can reveal unexpected wonders and impact our perception of the world. This artwork depicts some of the 258 butterfly species found in Hong Kong. I show a different side to Hong Kong that is not know by many.
Contact Info
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Emailhello@mianel.com
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Websitehttps://www.mianel.com/
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