A pair of wings grew on the boy's spine, near his shoulder blades. The scrawny boy was self-conscious about his protruding shoulder blades and disliked being naked. His attention was drawn to the center of his spine, which itched and ached as if throbbing, making everyday activities like playing, studying, or sleeping feel heavy and burdensome.



Tightening the belt of his trousers made his stomach ache. Loosening it brought relief, but he felt distracted by the fear that his trousers might slip down, making him uneasy. The boy's waist was thin. He wondered if his intestines and large intestine, as depicted in the anatomy diagrams he'd seen in the library, were winding their way through this narrow space. He pursed his lips with dissatisfaction, looking at his reflection in the bathroom mirror.



Two or three weeks after the pair of wings between his shoulder blades fell off, small protrusions began to grow, little by little. Would he once again fly through the sky, only to wet the bed and add another secret he didn't want his family or friends to know about?



A pair of wings symbolizes freedom, but also constraint. They represent dreams and hopes for the future, yet simultaneously pull one back to reality, bringing a touch of despair. However, this boy is an angel who loves himself, and even more, loves the world. It is said that at the age of ten, a person's wings molt once. The second set of wings, it is said, are invisible to oneself and to others, perceptible only through feeling.




MIC*ITAYA

TENSHI NO HANE

acrylic on canvas

1000×500/mm

24th Nov. 2011



MIC*ITAYA

http://www.micitaya.com/