I heard that every visitor to New York and Chicago will go to a large public art installation in the city center to take a photo. This sculpture, called “Cloud Gate,” is actually the masterpiece of artist Anish Kapoor. He created a huge, smooth stainless steel structure that reflects the cityscape and the sky. The locals consider it a living artwork.
不过现在这件作品并非芝加哥独有，因为Anish Kapoor于15年前受美国纽约市曼哈顿下城委约的作品现已正式面世！
This piece is named “The Bean” and is meticulously welded together from 38 stainless steel plates. It measures 48 feet in length, 19 feet in height, and weighs a whopping 40 tons. Similar to the design of “Cloud Gate,” this artwork reflects the sky and surrounding urban landscape with its curved concave surface, encouraging passersby to stop and explore this twisted city skyline while immersing themselves in the reflective visual effects.
今天大家所见的雕塑其实是艺术家在过往十多年排除万难而制成的，除了2008至2009年金融危机和后来新冠疫情而导致多番延误后，这件作品亦因为技术复杂性而推后完工日期。由于历时多年还未完成，因此之前更获得了「半豆」的绰号。
The work looks like it is trapped under the building, establishing an intimate connection with nearby residents and passing audience. During the daytime, this sculpture resembles a lighthouse, and at night, its reflective surface will be illuminated by the surrounding environment, becoming the newest landmark in New York. Next time you visit New York, you might as well take a photo with this “bean” as a souvenir.
