Why did they close down The Bean?
Chicago’s popular photo spot—Cloud Gate, also known as The Bean, is temporarily closed to the public from August 15, 2023, until Spring 2024. This closure results from construction required on Grainger Plaza for repairs and upgrades. The Plaza surrounds The Bean at Millennium Park. He is best known for his enigmatic large-scale works and public installations, such as the famous Cloud Gate, fondly referred to as “The Bean,” in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Cloud Gate, like many of Kapoor’s works, utilizes reflective surfaces and captivates viewers with its awe-inspiring scale and deceptive beauty.While its real name is “Cloud Gate,” most people call it “The Bean” because of its bean-like shape. It’s famous for its smooth, mirror-like surface that reflects the city’s skyline and all the people around it. Kids love to see their reflections and watch how they change when they move around the sculpture.And yes, even though I call it a roadside attraction, I still think of it as an impressive piece of art. The Chicago Bean is definitely not some random structure, but a beautifully created monument. One of the main focal points in Millennium Park, Cloud Gate was designed by acclaimed artist, Anish Kapoor.The Bean – known by its actual name Cloud Gate – is a piece of outdoor public artwork that serves as a famous symbol of the city. It’s also Instagram famous as it’s one of Chicago’s most photographed attractions.What does The Bean mean? The Bean’s reflective surface was inspired by liquid mercury. This shiny exterior reflects the people moving around the park, the lights of Michigan Avenue, and the surrounding skyline and green space — perfectly encapsulating the Millennium Park experience.
Why is there a Bean in the middle of Chicago?
What does The Bean in Chicago mean? Formally known as Cloud Gate, Chicago’s Bean is a mercury-inspired structural wonder of engineering, resulting from the artistic vision of Anish Kapoor in collaboration with a design and construction firm. The Bean was created by the Indian-born British sculptor Anish Kapoor, who uses reflective surfaces and geometric shapes in all the London-based artist’s designs. The Cloud Gate was the first of Kapoor’s work installed in the United States and paid by private donors.
Why don’t you touch The Bean in Chicago?
A History of the Bean Concerns about Kapoor’s initial designs further delayed construction. Some feared the highly reflective surface might become dangerously hot in the summer or cold in the winter. But what does The Bean mean? Liquid mercury inspired its shape and material, and Kapoor wanted the sculpture’s highly reflective surface to show the city’s movement. With people, traffic, and lights constantly moving and changing across its surface, The Bean, although staying motionless, seems to move with the city.