![]() ![]() The concave underside of this beast reaches 27 feet off the ground, creating a sort of inner chamber where viewers can see multiple reflections and distortions of themselves as they pass through. Yes, ‘The Bean’ has a navel, or an “omphalos” in Greek, as the arty folks call it. And if that’s true, who knows how long it would last if it were canned?! ![]() According to Anish Kapoor’s contract, and likely because of its stainless steel materials and rigorous upkeep, it’s meant to survive at least 1,000 years. Good thing people seem to like it, or, at least are amused by it, because it’s here to stay. So, I wouldn’t tell those guys they “missed a spot”… The entire bean itself is then cleaned twice a year with about 40 gallons of liquid detergent. In order to keep the surface shiny enough to give you those memorable vacation photos, a lower portion of ‘The Bean’ is polished not once, but twice a day… by hand. While ‘The Bean’ doesn’t need much in the way of food, water or shelter, it does need a good polishing to keep up its lustrous shine. ![]() (And seriously, some sort of near-by name card would help, Chicago).Ĭhicago’s Cloud Gate, or as it’s more affectionately known, ‘The Bean’ But to me, and likely many others, it’s simply what makes it look like the bean we all know and love. The arch is supposed give it a gate-like appearance while it reflects the clouds and Chicago skyline. ![]() It was inspired by the appearance of liquid mercury, and it gets its name from the 12 foot arch in its middle. Apparently, the official name of this structure is called Cloud Gate, and it was designed by the Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor. Maybe I’m some oblivious trollop ignorantly wandering this fine city, but I had no idea what it actually was until recently. It’s NOT supposed to be a giant bean… and thank God. It’s the reaction of the people to it.You know that giant, shiny, legume-like structure that resides in the heart of Chicago? Where tourists (and Okay, Chicagoans, too) flock to take their picture in front or reflected off of? Well, I consider myself a Chicagoan, but apparently, there are a few things I didn’t know about this unique, lakefront fixture.ġ. The best part of the sculpture for me though, is not the amazing way it reflects the Chicago Skyline. A walk under its nine-foot-tall arch can be a mind-bending experience. And because of the way it bulges and looms over the viewer, it offers a magically distorted view of the surroundings to them, and some even call it a magical rift in the fabric of space and time. The sculptor named it Cloud Gate, because 80% of its shiny surface reflects the sky. It cost $23,000,000 to make this beautiful, shiny, 33 ft monument. But soon, throngs of people were drawn to it, and “The Bean” became a new symbol of Chicago. When it was first unveiled, some called it unimaginative, and that’s how it got the name “The Electric Kidney Bean”. Can you see the Bean behind me? I’m in front of the Cloud Gate, at Millennium Park, Chicago! Also known as The Electric Kidney Bean, Cloud Gate has been praised as one of the most unique and interesting sculptures in decades, and it was created by sculptor Anish Kapoor. ![]()
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