The timeless material of art installations

The Cloud Gate sculpture in Chicago’s Millennium Park is always crowded with visitors. Composed of 168 seamlessly welded 304 stainless steel plates, this artwork resembles a giant silver pod, radiating a dreamy luster in the sunlight. Few people know that to achieve this seamless effect, each plate was cold-forged under 1,000 tons of pressure, and the welders were welded at -5°C to ensure the metal’s stability.

Lake Michigan’s humid climate is a test for any outdoor artwork, yet Cloud Gate maintains its pristine beauty despite the elements. This is thanks to a special passivation treatment on the 304 stainless steel plates, which leaves no marks after rain. Even on foggy mornings, the sculpture’s surface quickly regains its pristine, water-like luster. Artist Anish Kapoor once said, “I needed a material that could both capture the allure of light and shadow and withstand the erosion of time. 304 stainless steel perfectly met my needs.” As visitors’ shadows are reflected on the sculpture’s surface, transforming into ever-changing forms as they move, the ductility of stainless steel elevates the art of light and shadow to its ultimate expression. Here, it transcends the limitations of steel, becoming a frozen poem of light and shadow, a statement of the perfect fusion of art and industry within the city.