Projection P.2502 by Toshio Iezumi , 60 x 20 cm
Art Taipei
October 30 - November 2, 2026
Hall 1, Taipei World Trade Center
Parallel + is pleased to announce that Mia Nel and Toshio Iezumi will be presented by Donna Art alongside its represented artists Keita Sagaki, Lu Fang, and Hung Chien Hui at Art Taipei 2026, taking place from October 30 to November 2, 2026, at Booth A18.
The presentation brings together two distinct approaches to material, light, and transformation. Mia Nel reimagines a century-old Chinese sugar art tradition, blending it with Shweshwe, a traditional South African printed textile pattern, as a backdrop on canvas and as intricate floral motifs. Through this interplay of cultural influences, Mia creates distinctive floral compositions that extend beyond the flat surface of the canvas. Butterflies, flowers, branches, and vases appear to float above the patterned background, lending the works a captivating three-dimensional quality that brings the intricate details and delicate forms to life.
Toshio Iezumi’s glass works explore light, reflection, transparency, and space, revealing shifting perceptions through the movement of light. This presentation features four series by Toshio Iezumi: Form, Projection, Move, and Floating Move. Together, they offer a glimpse into his innovative and precise manipulation of glass, where meticulous craftsmanship transforms rigid material into undulating curves and fluid contours reminiscent of cascading waterfalls.
Highlights of the Exhibition
"Butterfly Bouquet" by Mia Nel
The individual elements of this artwork are crafted from a unique, proprietary crystalline composite developed by Mia Nel. By bonding sugar crystals within an archival resin matrix, the sugar is chemically “fossilized, " to create a high-performance hybrid material. The resulting sculptures are waterproof, scratch-resistant, and possess a permanent glass-like stability with the deep, lustrous gloss of traditional imperial Chinese ceramics.
Emerging like a living floral arrangement, this sculpture honors the unexpected natural beauty of Hong Kong—a city rich with over 250 butterfly species. Relocating to Sai Kung revealed a landscape far beyond the concrete jungle, captivating me with its constant flurry of motion and life.
The artwork features butterfly species native to Asia and Africa. Arranged as blossoms bursting from a vase, they embody the butterfly effect, reflecting how small shifts, like moving across the world, can transform our perspective and reveal unexpected wonders.
Grounding the composition is a hand- piped acrylic lace pattern inspired by traditional South African Shweshwe textiles. By layering this childhood heritage beneath the floral butterfly arrangement, the background acts as a physical anchor for my dual identity—harmonizing my roots with my present home into a single, unified visual ecosystem.
Medium: Pigment Ink, Mixed Media – Organic Crystalline Composite (Sugar and Resin)
Dimensions & Year: 100 x 80 cm, 2026
“Frolicking in Florals”
Medium: Pigment Ink, Mixed Media – Organic Crystalline Composite (Sugar and Resin)
Dimensions & Year: 50 x 50 x 5 cm, 2026
Sculpted in my signature Crystalline Composite material, this artwork honors the enduring bond between humans and their pets. The intricate floral patterns mirror the fleeting nature of life, reminding us to cherish every moment, while sugar—a natural preservative—symbolizes how the enduring power of love sustains us through life's challenges
Rooted in my deep affection as a bulldog owner, the sculpture captures their loyal and tenacious spirit. The work evolves into a powerful guardian figure that bridges my two homes, Africa and Asia, drawing stylistically on the centuries-old tradition of Imperial Guardian Lions ("Foo Dogs") to symbolize protection and strength.
In my sculptures, the pale dark green of the glass is not a chromatic choice but a structural condition.
This tint results from iron content and thickness; it is not applied to the surface but generated from within the material itself. It belongs to the material as such. In this sense, it is not representation but manifestation.
"Form Series F.260601"
Medium: Plate Glass, Handmade, Carved, & Polished
Dimensions: 33 x 18.5 x 13 cm | Year: 2026
