Highest position on Explore: #134 on Saturday, August 7, 2010
Cloud Gate, a public sculpture by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor, is the centerpiece of the AT&T Plaza in Millennium Park within the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois, United States. The sculpture and AT&T Plaza are located on top of Park Grill, between the Chase Promenade and McCormick Tribune Plaza & Ice Rink. Constructed between 2004 and 2006, the sculpture is nicknamed "The Bean" because of its bean-like shape. Made up of 168 stainless steel plates welded together, its highly polished exterior has no visible seams. It is 33 feet by 66 feet by 42 feet (10 m × 20 m × 13 m), and weighs 110 short tons (100 t; 98 long tons).
Kapoor's design was inspired by liquid mercury and the sculpture's surface reflects and distorts the city's skyline. Visitors are able to walk around and under Cloud Gate's 12-foot (3.7 m) high arch. On the underside is the "omphalos" (Greek for "navel"), a concave chamber that warps and multiplies reflections. The sculpture builds upon many of Kapoor's artistic themes, and is popular with tourists as a photo-taking opportunity for its unique reflective properties.
The sculpture was selected during a design competition. After Kapoor's design was chosen, numerous technological concerns regarding the design's construction and assembly arose, in addition to concerns regarding the sculpture's upkeep and maintenance. Various experts were consulted, some of whom believed the design could not be implemented. Eventually, a feasible method was found, but the sculpture's construction fell behind schedule. It was unveiled in an incomplete form during the Millennium Park grand opening celebration in 2004, before being concealed again while it was completed. Cloud Gate was formally dedicated on May 15, 2006, and has since gained considerable popularity, both domestically and internationally.
powerfocusfotografie, and 65 other people added this photo to their favorites.
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madbesl 35 months ago | reply
Fantastic shot with great reflections.
wandelgraaf(mostly off) 35 months ago | reply
Wat een sublieme reflectie Bert in dit aparte kunstwerk staand in een daarvoor goede omgeving, en een geweldig creatie, mijn complimenten
Alice H van der Plas 35 months ago | reply
wow, dit is echt heel cool! Mooi die selectieve kleuring ook.
Wouter van Wijngaarden 35 months ago | reply
Zeer fraai en heel bijzonder , excellent werk Bert !
Paul Beentjes 35 months ago | reply
Fantastisch gebruik van selectieve kleuren. Erg mooi gedaan.
Hylda_H 35 months ago | reply
Deze heb ik vaker gezien, maar je bewerking is werkelijk meesterlijk!
Jorn Idzerda 35 months ago | reply
Zo'n vet ding dit!
Carlo Vingerling 35 months ago | reply
Mooi kunstwerk...je z/w combinatie met kleur werkt hier erg sterk!...
BraCom (Bram) 35 months ago | reply
jij komt echt overal Bert, wat een prachtige opname van een heel bijzonder ding
Photos Marlies 35 months ago | reply
Dit is een foto naar mijn hart! Waarschijnlijk zou ik dit kunstwerk ook op de foto hebben willen zetten. Ik vind het schitterend, knap stukje werk!
Exitthegrey 35 months ago | reply
Wow Bert! dit is mega mooi ! en gaaf door de selectieve kleuring!
Pierre Éthier 35 months ago | reply
Great shot - love the reflection !
Allerd R. 35 months ago | reply
nice, altijd al naartoe willen gaan!
freemysoul 34 months ago | reply
prachtig!
Ik vond het bijzonder imposant om er te staan en naar te kijken van alle kanten.
meravigliosopericoloso 34 months ago | reply
this is amazing bert!!!!
great work!
koko_pictures 34 months ago | reply
Moeilijk om naar de volgende foto van jou te gaan.......dit is zo adembenemend mooi!!!!!
Ik blijf nog even genieten....... :o)
JiLLa ZiLLa 30 months ago | reply
Very CooL.
.veroriska. 29 months ago | reply
god posotion
mey2011 29 months ago | reply
amazing...........
TheEpicEngine 13 months ago | reply
The Daily Epic 5
Great shot and thanks for offering it as creative commons. It has been featured on the adventure lifestyle blog TheEpicEngine.com
www.theepicengine.com/2012/05/30/the-daily-epic-8/