"S-Curve," 2006, Polished steel
Institute of Contemporary Art — Boston
May 30 – Sept. 7
This is Kapoor's first American museum survey in more than 15 years. During that time the Mumbai-born, London-based artist has risen to international fame and also produced one of the most popular works of public art anywhere in the U.S., "Cloud Gate" — aka "the Bean." That would be the immense curving blob of reflecting stainless steel, a sort of giant funhouse mirror, that's become a major draw at Chicago's Millennium Park. This show will bring together 14 works that Kapoor has completed since 1980, including examples from several of his sculptural "languages" — pure pigment, voids, mirror and wax. It was the Boston ICA that gave Kapoor his first ever U.S. museum exhibition in 1985. This show promises to be a spectacular way on his part of returning the favor.