2021

Metamorphosis

Shirley Ying

Shirley Ying

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

2021

Metamorphosis

Shirley Ying

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

2021

Metamorphosis

Shirley Ying

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

As someone who has always been fascinated by the whimsical and by fantasy, I wanted to create a project that would bring the viewer into a different environment to evoke a sense of wonder. Light is softly cast from within the chrysalis structure as if to suggest life emerging from within like a pupa the moment before it is reborn as a butterfly, and light is cast through translucent insect wings onto the surfaces around the viewer as the structure slowly spins, transforming the reflections. I was inspired by the reflection and distortion of light through colorful insect wings like light passing through stained glass, and by the organic structure of a chrysalis that was reminiscent of a lightbulb.

Metamorphosis