“The circle is only completed by the viewer.” -- Anish Kapoor
"You complete me" -Art
Cloud Gate, 2006 Anish Kapoor
Wichai Cheva Photography
The massive piece measures 66 feet (20 meters) long and 33 feet high and features a 12-foot-tall arch at its base. It comprises 168 stainless steel plates that have been seamlessly welded together to create the illusion of a single form. Visitors are encouraged to walk around and underneath the sculpture to observe the way it warps the reflection of themselves and the environment. (My Modern Met)
See
Kapoor has explored the possibilities of reflective surfaces in many sculptures in addition to Cloud Gate.
Tsunami, 2018 by Anish Kapoor
This nearly 12 ft sculpture is a circular form based on an hourglass form and evoking the Mobius strip. It is balanced on two tiny points which suggest the feeling of lightness to this large seamless Stainless Steel piece. The title, Tsunami, conjures awe, referencing an ominous, powerful force that appears as if from nowhere. (Meer)
Sky Mirror at Nottingham Playhouse
The first thing that greets visitors to Nottingham Playhouse is the spectacular Sky Mirror sculpture which forms part of a water feature. Installed in 2001, it has been an iconic part of the area ever since. It is made from stainless steel and creates an ever-changing reflection of its surroundings depending on who walks past and the time of day or year. (Visit Nottinghamshire)
Kapoor’s work also explores intense pigments and other media. Below, concave sculptures mounted on the walls are abstract paintings rather than mirrors.
Anish Kapoor, installation view, Lisson Gallery on Tenth Avenue, New York. Courtesy of the artist and Lisson Gallery.
Vantablack
In 2014, Surrey NanoSystems, a company based in the United Kingdom, developed Vantablack, an unprecedented pigment that absorbs 99.965% of visible light. At the time, this material was deemed the “world’s blackest black,” making it an exciting innovation for color-concerned artists like Kapoor. In fact, Kapoor was so enthusiastic about Vantablack that he had a highly publicized hand in its development.
This collaboration with Surrey NanoSystems, however, had a catch: in exchange for his help, he sought exclusive usage rights to the material. As expected, this did not sit well with other artists, like Stuart Semple, who has since retaliated by developing even “blacker” blacks. And, yes, unlike Vantablack, Semple's pigments are legally available to everyone—except Kapoor. (My Modern Met)
Say
Cloud Gate is said to be the most photographed piece of public art in the world. Why do you think it is so popular?
After Vantablack was developed, Kapoor wanted to own the right to use the color. Do you think artists should copyright colors? Why/Why not?
Do
Compare and contrast the work ‘Newborn’ of Brancusi and Kapoor created nearly 100 years apart.
Read 10 Fan Facts about Cloud Gate (affectionately known as The Bean)
About Anish Kapoor
Photo credit: George Darrell
Anish Kapoor was born in Mumbai, India in 1954 and lives and works in London. He studied at Hornsey College of Art, London, UK (1973–77) followed by postgraduate studies at Chelsea School of Art, London, UK (1977–78).
Anish Kapoor is one of the most influential sculptors of his generation. Perhaps most famous for public sculptures that are both adventures in form and feats of engineering, Kapoor maneuvers between vastly different scales, across numerous series of work. (Lisson Gallery)
Latest work: Anish Kapoor Carbon Nano Technology
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