Orly Alon Merguei, based between Israel and Auroville, India, transforms trash into art. Her creativity gives beauty and new life to discarded objects.
Orly as an artist and Social worker uses Recycled materials and Upcycles to raise awareness for environmental issues and women empowerment with imagination and persistence.
She co-founded 'Wellpaper' in Auroville. The organisation's primary goal is to empower local village women with skills to build, manage and maintain self-sustaining work units, along with a strong focus on social justice and ecology.
She gives presentations and leads workshops about Recycling & Upcycling waste and serves as a sustainable lifestyle consultant to Companies, Groups and Individuals from around the world, including China, Myanmar, France, India, and Israel.
Selected Exhibitions
When I flew to India last December, I had a few good and long hours waiting at Mumbai airport for my next flight.
Since there was not enough time to go out and return to the field, and since I have no interest in walking around duty free, I took a picture frame and made it into a small loom.
When I arrived at my home in India I continued weaving.
Presented at Herzliya
Municipal Gallery ,Israel, on March 2023.
Made from wool and cotton threads and other upcycled materials.
- Orly
Orly's work in a group exhibition in Carmial, Israel. 2023
The face is made of clay and the hair from video tapes.
Trash Parade ,Tel Aviv 2023. All Made from Video tapes.
Bag done by OK Jeong Lee.
The Bra protector.
Done in collaboration with Jaana Lorch and Adam Merguei.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/100000415055751/videos/728226672120654/
An exciting evening... Orly telling about her family's journey, in the neighborhood she left in 2001 and came back after almost 20 years.
Weaving memories, India, 2023.
The weaved artwork tells "Stories of my Life. Each strand, shape and texture, the memorabilia's are infused together as one wholesome dream." - Orly
Art exhibition by Orly Alon Merguei in Israel
Israel, Ministry of External Affairs.
Organized by The Embassy of India in Israel, in association with the Tribal and Israeli Art Gallery.
Lampshades at the Zoo Botanical Gardens in Nahariya, Israel, 2021.
Made from used plastic bags, non-woven fabric, CDs, cloth and beads.