Location: center of AT&T Plaza, Millennium Park, Chicago, USA
Artist: Anish Kapoor, stainless steel, 2004-06
Inspired by liquid mercury, the 110-ton elliptical sculpture is affectionately called “The Bean” by the locals. It is forged of a seamless series of highly polished stainless steel plates, which reflect the city’s famous skyline and the clouds above. A 12-foot-high arch provides a “gate” to the concave chamber beneath the sculpture, inviting visitors to touch its mirror-like surface and see their image reflected back from a variety of perspectives. According to Kappor, “What I wanted to do… is make something that would engage the Chicago skyline…so that one will see the clouds kind of floating in, with those very tall buildings reflected in the work. And then, since it is in the form of a gate, the participant, the viewer, will be able to enter into this very deep chamber that does, in a way, the same thing to one’s reflection as the exterior of the piece is doing to the reflection of the city around.” (From millenniumpark.org)
flickr pic originally uploaded by Ryanem
flickr pic originally uploaded by Michael Kappel
detail shot originally uploaded by Suranga13
flickr pic originally uploaded by ccfenter
