Orly, with over 25 years of experience as a sculptor working in porcelain, has recently turned her focus to the world of paper, making her first foray into this medium with the series Self-Topography on Paper. Orly is known for her repetitive use of a singular image, each time imprinting it with a different surrealistic expression. The figures in her work remain consistently white but are transformed through the application of mixed media and unique materials. Her work continually explores themes of identity, unraveling the complex layers that make up who we are.

In this new series, Orly's pieces stand out as her first steps into working with paper, a material she approaches with the same conceptual and technical finesse as porcelain. Both porcelain and paper serve as metaphors for skin in her work—fragile yet flexible, capable of holding both memories and scars. The use of paper opens up new possibilities for Orly, allowing her to layer and reshape the material in ways that reflect the intricate nature of identity.

The choice of paper is deeply symbolic, as it is often associated with stories and memories. It mirrors how our childhood experiences imprint on us, layer by layer, shaping our sense of self and identity. The casting process, where pulp is pressed and formed, echoes how formative events—whether joyous or painful—leave lasting marks on our beings. Orly’s sculptures reveal delicate textures and imperfections on their surfaces, hinting at the hidden scars and memories beneath. These surfaces express how our experiences shape our perceptions, fears, and aspirations.

The child’s gaze in her sculptures, both curious and melancholic, captures a sense of vulnerability and reflection, as if contemplating the world and the experiences that have molded their inner landscape. The fragile, textured surface of the cast paper symbolizes human skin—sensitive, absorbing, and bearing the marks of time. The circular form around the child’s head, resembling a halo or a protective shell, is fragmented, signifying the vulnerabilities and fractures that come to light as we navigate life’s complexities.