“What does it mean to be part of a crowd?” That’s a question you might ask yourself as you stand before Agora, a striking sculpture in Chicago’s Grant Park.
Agora is not just any sculpture. It is an installation of 106 headless and armless iron figures. These figures stand at the south end of Grant Park. They were created by Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz.
Between 2004 and 2006, these figures were made in a foundry near Poznań. In 2006, the Chicago Park District acquired Agora as a permanent loan. It came from the Polish Ministry of Culture. Similar installations exist worldwide. However, Agora is among the largest.
Chicago has a large Polish American community. The city had hoped to add a major work by Abakanowicz for years. Before Agora, plans included a large hand. It was to be placed at the end of BP Pedestrian Bridge. There was also a set of animal sculptures. These were to be placed near the Monroe Street harbor. Another proposal suggested headless figures for Chicago’s Museum Campus. Eventually, Mayor Richard M. Daley suggested Grant Park. He proposed the south end near Roosevelt Road. By 2006, private donors contributed over $700,000. Actor Robin Williams was among them. This helped bring Agora to Chicago.
Each figure is nine feet tall. They weigh about 1,800 pounds. Each is made from a hollow piece of iron. The iron has been allowed to rust. This gives the figures a reddish color. It also creates a bark-like texture. The figures seem to mill about. Some face each other. Others look away. Visitors are encouraged to walk through the sculptures. They should contemplate the work.
Agora means “meeting place” in ancient Greek. Abakanowicz grew up during World War II. She said her art draws on her fear of crowds. She once described crowds as “brainless organisms.” They act on command. They worship on command and hate on command.
However, Agora has inspired optimistic views. One writer suggested the figures seem to be thinking. They think not as a group but as individuals. He felt the piece could represent democracy.
Agora received mixed reactions in Chicago. Some people loved it. Others hated it. Mayor Daley said you must experience it. You must feel the artist’s spirit in each piece.
As you walk among these iron giants, consider their silent presence. What do they represent to you? Are they a symbol of unity or a reminder of the dangers of conformity? The meaning of Agora is truly an open question.