Chicago's 'Bean' sculpture by Anish Kapoor to reopen after maintenance

Chicago's iconic Cloud Gate sculpture, known as 'The Bean', is set to reopen to the public by the end of June 2024, according to the city's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. The reopening follows maintenance work on the surrounding AT&T Plaza in Millennium Park that began in August 2023, including reconstruction of the plaza's podium, replacement of pavements, new stairs and ramps for accessibility, and a new waterproofing system. The sculpture, created by Anglo-Indian artist Anish Kapoor, was built between 2004 and 2006 at a cost of $23 million. It consists of 168 welded stainless steel plates, is 10 x 20 x 13 meters in size, weighs over 100 tons, and is one of the largest public art installations in the world. Its highly reflective surface distorts the city skyline and viewers, making it extremely popular on Instagram. In 2015, a similar work appeared in Karamay, China, which many—including Kapoor—considered too similar.