Monument with Standing Beast, outside Thompson Center since 1980s, to be moved to state facility

Tuesday, March 12, 2024
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A sculpture that has lived outside Chicago's James R. Thompson Center since the 1980s will be moved to a state facility, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's office said.

Video taken Monday shows Jean Dubuffet's 29-foot sculpture, Monument with Standing Beast, blocked off outside the Loop building.
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Pritzker's office issued a statement, saying, "The state is working on a long-term plan for the artwork and in the meantime the statue will be transported to a state own facility to ensure it is kept in good condition. We will announce the plans for the statue when they are finalized."
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The sculpture is comprised of four elements that suggest a standing animal, a tree, a portal and an architectural form.

Unveiling the sculpture in 1984, Dubuffet described the piece as a "drawing which extends...into space" and hoped it would resonate with the average person on the street.
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