[Rick Masters]

It makes me wonder if a hang glider's wing could be designed with an airfoil surface like scales on a lizard. These scales could lift at the unattached end, unloading the force of strong turbulence by making the wing temporarily pourus.

[JoeF]

Yes. See the two options along with proportional use:
See the study on scales that lift to mitigate stall and other harsh events; the main wing does not go porous.
But your added suggestion of the scale lifting to reveal some porosity is worthy of exploration. Some of both processes might be in place. Maybe controllable portions of the two processes.