Ayfer Paleciç Okan, a 63-year-old retired civil servant from Eskişehir, central Turkey, has found a unique way to turn waste paper into beautiful works of art. Using everyday materials like tram tickets, posters, and brochures, she creates items such as jewelry, vases, and amphorae.
After retiring in 2008 from her role at the Kırklareli Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship, Okan moved to Eskişehir in 2014 to support her daughter’s university education. Seeking a new social outlet, she joined a sewing course offered by the Odunpazarı District Municipality. It was there that she met Ali Rıza Kart, an artist who inspired her by turning waste paper into jewelry and accessories with his own designs. Motivated by his work, Okan decided to turn one room in her home into a workshop where she could create her own pieces.
Okan collects waste paper from various sources around the city, including tram tickets, posters from exhibitions, and brochures. She cuts these materials into small 3-millimeter pieces and shapes them by hand into intricate designs. To date, she has created more than 100 pieces, including jewelry, small vases, and amphorae.
To ensure the durability of her creations, Okan coats them with varnish. She often gifts these handmade pieces to public institutions and private companies where she collects the waste paper.
In an interview, Okan explained her creative process and the significance of the materials she uses. “I knock on many doors to collect papers,” she said. “I take discarded tram tickets, posters from exhibitions, and brochures from public institutions to recycle them. Last year, I went to Istanbul and picked up a brochure featuring designs for the Süleymaniye Mosque tiles and tulips.”
Okan went on to describe how she turned this brochure into a pair of earrings. “From that brochure, I made earrings inspired by the designs of Süleymaniye. I cut out the parts with patterns and turned them into earrings. At first, it was difficult. My hand got cut, I had an allergic reaction to the glue, but I never gave up. Now, I really enjoy it.”
The process involves cutting the collected paper into small pieces and shaping them into various forms. When creating rings or earrings, Okan cuts the paper into thinner strips, rolls them up, and shapes them. Once the pieces are glued together, she adds decorative designs. She finds it especially rewarding when people mistake her work for being made of stone, only to be surprised when they learn it’s made of paper. She also enjoys creating marble-like patterns and designing birds, ducks, flamingos, and storks.
For Okan, creating art has become a therapeutic activity. She believes that her work helps her feel connected and combats loneliness. “When I work on this, I don’t feel lonely. I truly believe in the saying, ‘Those who do art don’t stay lonely,'” she said. “Art is something anyone of any age can do. It’s accessible, and I want to show that this type of art has come from Eskişehir. It’s a very enjoyable pursuit, and it even helps me sleep better.”
Despite the time and effort involved, Okan does not sell her creations. She values the satisfaction of making something meaningful and sharing it with others, whether through gifts or simply by showing it to the people around her. Okan’s work is a reminder that creativity can transform even the most ordinary materials into extraordinary art, and her story reflects the power of persistence and passion.
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