FRAGILITY
Yifan Peng
Belgium

This series is inspired by the structure of cicada wings and focuses on the contrast between fragility and strength. I am interested in how light, material, and form can reveal both stability and vulnerability at the same time.
I use smoke to create wing shapes on thin handmade paper. The traces of smoke record the movement of fire and form patterns that cannot be fully controlled. Behind the paper, a metal framework supports the piece. When light passes through, the metal structure becomes visible, creating a balance between solid and transparent elements.
These works are not literal representations of wings but studies of how something delicate can still hold presence. Through this process, I explore how materials can show time, memory, and transformation in a quiet and simple way.
I use smoke to create wing shapes on thin handmade paper. The traces of smoke record the movement of fire and form patterns that cannot be fully controlled. Behind the paper, a metal framework supports the piece. When light passes through, the metal structure becomes visible, creating a balance between solid and transparent elements.
These works are not literal representations of wings but studies of how something delicate can still hold presence. Through this process, I explore how materials can show time, memory, and transformation in a quiet and simple way.


