Even in the heat of New York’s rat race, take a look around anywhere and you’ll see a portrait of humanity; you’ll find millions learning to live side-by-side in a place where fractured paths converge and isolation gives way to a new genre of unity. This premise serves as the focus of Steel Shards, the latest conceptual installation by Gregory Orekhov. In his mosaic of mirror-polished, stainless steel surfaces atop the waters of Central Park, the Russian sculptor wants us to stop and smell the roses.
Captured within these floating shards are glimpses of sky, clouds and the tops of skyscrapers, punctuated by lush bursts of green. As sunlight fractures across the steel, the city’s outlines appear to break apart and come back together, creating an interplay of fragility and strength.
Renderings reveal a sea of fragmented forms that reflect the city’s vibrant energy, symbolizing both rupture and restoration. Like the city’s inhabitants, who come from all walks of life, these mirrors intersect and interact, though they can never return to their original state after crossing paths with one another.
Like much of Orekhov’s past work, Steel Shards invites us into a dialogue between natural and industrial qualities of a city and the visual and cultural landscapes they nurture. Akin to New York’s resilient spirit, the work finds comfort in the idea that even the most broken things can once again begin anew.
While the project has been submitted for consideration, further development is underway. “Some projects take time. And an artist needs to have patience, like a drop of water that wears away stone,” the artist expressed. Head to the Orekhov’s page for more information and updates on the project.
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