Ephemeral I is, at first glance, utterly fragile. Like spun sugar. Yet it holds a curious power, inviting us to ponder the limits of form. Yujie Yang captures a fleeting instant, as if time paused mid-splash. Glass can be both breakable and enduring. This tension fascinates. She shows movement harnessed by careful craftsmanship in a single, frosty sculpture. You can sense fluidity lingering just below the surface. Lean in closer. Icicle-like ridges shimmer under the light, reflecting an entire world of paradoxical energies. It is a moment frozen in space, yet humming with life.
At its core, Ephemeral I explores the idea that fragility need not be a liability. Sometimes, it speaks of hidden resilience. The crystalline tendrils appear to dance, defying gravity, as if refusing to accept their own limitations. In this way, Yujie’s vision becomes a metaphor for our collective yearning to transcend boundaries and float free of earthly constraints. The piece shimmers with a gentle, otherworldly aura, reminiscent of early morning frost kissed by the dawn. Translucence plays a key role. As light seeps through each spindly formation, a kaleidoscope of shadows emerges on adjacent surfaces, hinting at Glass’s infinite possibilities. Intriguingly, the base of the sculpture feels heavier, anchoring this airy spectacle. That interplay of weight and weightlessness prompts viewers to question whether we, too, can find poise in our most delicate moments. It is a captivating conversation between matter, imagination, and the human spirit—a silent yet compelling triumph.
Central to Yujie’s artistic practice is the notion that Glass, though seemingly immutable once cooled, never truly loses its capacity for metamorphosis. She reminds us that given enough heat, this material can always revert to liquid form, ready to be shaped again. In this sense, Ephemeral I symbolises the unstoppable nature of change. Like a single breath on a frosty pane, it hovers between states, simultaneously solid and in constant flux. Light penetrates its surface, revealing minute inconsistencies and delicate bubbles that whisper of the molten dance from which it was born. This quiet backstory infuses the piece with a sense of living history. One can almost hear the pop and hiss of its creation, or feel the heat of the lampwork technique that coaxed it into existence. For Yujie, that improvisational approach—devoid of sketches or rigid plans—becomes an essential component, echoing the spontaneous rhythms found throughout nature itself. Nothing is forced. Everything flows. That creative freedom breathes life into every curve and contour, ensuring each droplet-like protrusion feels entirely organic. You sense the tension of a moment captured in Glass, as though every bubble might burst into motion at any instant. Transience finds refuge here, refusing to be tamed.
Beyond mere technique, Ephemeral I resonates with more resounding cultural echoes. Yujie references the Chinese concept of ‘ephemerality,’ often symbolised by the fleeting bloom of the night-blooming cereus. Like that elusive flower, the sculpture relishes its own impermanence, reminding us that all beauty is bound by time. Yet this acknowledgement of transience does not diminish the piece’s power. Instead, it imbues it with a sense of urgency, urging viewers to savour every gleam of light, every icy contour, before it drifts into memory. In a world obsessed with preservation, where even cave paintings once sought to outwit oblivion, Yujie’s glass creation stands as a luminous testament to the futility and wonder of making moments last. Here, the medium itself becomes a metaphor for human longing, shimmering with the tension between presence and absence. Within each tendril, we glimpse the fragility of time passing. Within each reflection, we see ourselves. That is the quiet truth of her work. Such an emotional pull beckons us closer, almost daring us to touch something that might shatter beneath our fingertips or endure as a crystal memory forever. Hovering on the brink, it enchants with echoes of the uncanny ephemeral, yet stands defiantly as living proof.
For those familiar with Yujie’s background in 2D animation and illustration, Ephemeral I may seem a bold detour. Yet the underlying threads remain: narrative, motion, and a keen sense of wonder. Glass acts as her stage, with light as the lead performer. Through each transparent flourish, she conjures vivid stories that transcend simple form. We observe a tangible memory, forged by heat yet alive with fluid potential. In gazing upon Ephemeral I, we also participate in its ongoing story.
