Anish Kapoor Finally Unveils New York’s Mini Version Of ‘The Bean’
New Yorkers in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan finally welcomed the long-awaited “mini-Bean” sculpture by British-Indian artist Anish Kapoor, following years of delay on the project that now sits wedged into the tower at 56 Leonard Street.
Meant to be a smaller iteration of Kapoor’s famed Cloud Gate, construction had begun on the artwork four years prior but faced numerous setbacks along the way, including travel restrictions in the wake of the pandemic.
According to ARTnews, an email from fabricator Performance Structures Inc to the developer, Alexico Group, back in 2018 offered a glimpse into how complex the project was, and how it differed from the iconic Chicago sculpture.
Anish Kapoor’s New Bean Sculpture At 56 Leonard Street (Jenga Building) In Tribeca pic.twitter.com/3c53afBW87
— Noel Y. Calingasan • NYC (@nyclovesnyc) February 1, 2023
The unnamed piece comprises 38 precision-formed stainless-steel plates anchored on a custom supporting framework, of which all components were welded together, sanded, and polished to shine so that “the results would create a perfect sculptural form.”
As previously reported by the Tribeca Citizen, the now-completed sculpture stands suspended by a system of cables and springs, so it’s able to sway slightly when the temperatures change outdoors or when there’s wind and snowfall.
While the display is available for public viewing, it still renames unnamed for the time being, with a naming ceremony scheduled to take place sometime in the spring. Though, as The Architect’s Newspaper posits, it’ll likely always be colloquially known as the “New York bean.”
Cloud Gate aka "The Bean" which is famous in Chicago, is finally complete in NYC #fujifilmx100v #thebeannyc #streetphotography pic.twitter.com/2R4LnAdyxC
— Tymel (@CapturedByTymel) February 1, 2023
[via ARTnews and The Architect’s Newspaper, cover image via Zhukovsky | Dreamstime.com]
