Contrary to what you might expect of an attraction with such a name, Cloud Gate is a hefty, bean-shaped public sculpture made of stainless steel plates welded together and highly polished with no visible seams. It was nicknamed ‘The Bean’ due to its uncanny resemblance to one, but its architect was originally inspired by liquid mercury. One of the largest outdoor installations in the world, its tremendous curved surface both reflects and distorts the city skyline, creating a surreal, warp-like effect in the otherwise rigid landscape. A 12-foot arch beneath the sculpture provides access to the ‘omphalos’ (Greek for ‘navel’), a concave chamber that invites tourists to touch its mirror-like surface, while multiplying their reflections. The elliptical structure weighs 110 tonnes in total, and was made possible entirely by private donations, defying skeptics who said that it was impossible to construct.