The Bean

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The sculpture is nicknamed "the Bean" because of its shape, a name Anish Kapoor initially disliked, but later grew fond of. Made up of 168 stainless steel plates welded together, its highly polished exterior has no visible seams. It measures 33 by 66 by 42 feet, and weighs 110 short tons. It was Constructed between 2004 and 2006 by famous artist Anish Kapoor, it is the centerpiece of Millennium Park in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois.

• Cloud Gate was designed with the Chicago skyline in mind.

• The entire sculpture is deep cleaned and washed twice a year with 150 liters (40 US gallons) of liquid detergent. City workers give it a power hose and wipe down daily. So shiny, so nice.

• The sculpture was hidden under a tent for its first eight months. That’s how long it took metalworkers to polish the entire sculpture and perfect it for the big reveal. The inside of the bean is largely made up of a wooden structure