The iconic Cloud Gate sculpture by Anish Kapoor, better known as the Bean, will have limited access to the public until 2024.
The announcement came from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events this week, on their website. As per the alert, construction began at the Grainger Plaza this week, which would limit accessibility to many parts of the Millenium Park – including where the sculpture is located. The construction is scheduled to finish in the spring of 2024. The statement read: “This necessary maintenance by the City of Chicago will replace pavers and make other repairs and accessibility upgrades to the Plaza—to enhance the nearly 20-year-old Park’s appearance, visitor experience, and position as the #1 attraction in the Midwest.”
Unveiled in 2006, Cloud Gate by Anish Kapoor is a 33 feet high and 66 feet long installation made up of 168 stainless steel plates which were welded and polished to impart the iconic mirror finish. Currently worth $23 million, the sculpture is one of the largest public installations in the world. It is also one of the most iconic, being a major tourist attraction in Chicago as well as being featured in numerous TV shows and movies (like Chicago Med and Transformers 4).
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Anish Kapoor, the British-Indian artist, admittedly never anticipated how popular the sculpture would become. This has also led to some issues over the years – including when he had to sue a Chinese city for plagiarism, as well as suing the NRA for unauthorized use of the image in their videos. Kapoor also unveiled a miniature version of the Bean earlier this year, located at the base of a Manhattan tower.
