The installation has been tested in a controlled water setting, with photographic documentation capturing the interaction of light and reflections within a gallery space. The material properties of polished steel allow the work to absorb and transform its environment, reinforcing its integration with the landscape. Submitted for consideration, the project awaits further development, with the understanding that large-scale public works require extended timelines for approval and realization.
mirroring steel shards by gregory orekhov float across central park’s water surface
the work reconfigures the perception of space through reflective materiality.
Gregory Orekhov Projects Steel Shards of Dreams on Water
Steel Shards is a conceptual visualization of a large-scale installation by artist Gregory Orekhov. The project consists of composite panels with mirror-polished stainless steel surfaces, arranged in a non-uniform composition on a water surface. The design explores themes of rupture and restoration, reflecting narratives of migration and adaptation while integrating into the cultural landscape of New York’s Central Park.
Public art installations often require extensive planning and approval processes. Steel Shards follows this trajectory, drawing parallels with projects such as Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s ‘The Gates,’ which took decades to be realized. The installation proposes a reflective surface that interacts with its surroundings, capturing sky, clouds, and city silhouettes. The fragmented reflections on the polished steel create a shifting visual experience, where forms appear to break apart and reassemble, emphasizing both instability and cohesion.
mirror-polished stainless steel panels reflect their surroundings
Artist Gregory Orekhov’s conceptual work references the intersection of different histories within an urban space. New York, as a site of diverse cultural and personal trajectories, provides a backdrop for exploring themes of displacement and adaptation. The fragmented steel forms symbolize connections emerging from separation, creating a dynamic relationship between material, reflection, and site context.
project info:
name: Steel Shards
artist: Gregory Orekhov | @gregory.orekhov
location: Central Park, New York
photographer: Nikita Subbotin | @studiolandon
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
shop
your own online design shop — no sales commission collected
