Kapoor considers legal action over 'fascist America' photo

The artist Anish Kapoor is considering taking legal action after border patrol agents posed for a photo in front of his Cloud Gate sculpture in Chicago amid aggressive crackdowns in the city.

- Lanre Bakare

Describing the scene as representing "fascist America", the Indian-born artist said he had been sent the image yesterday by a friend who lives in the US city during a conversation about his show next year at the London Southbank Centre's Hayward Gallery.

"Abducting street vendors, breaking doors, pulling people from cars, using teargas on residential streets," he said about the agents, who were reportedly celebrating after "military style" immigration enforcement raids. "I mean, this is fascist America and just beyond belief."

There have been reports that more than 1,000 people have been arrested by federal agents since the crackdown began in September. When asked if he was considering legal options, Kapoor said: "Of course, I'm going to do everything I can."

Kapoor took legal action against the National Rifle Association (NRA) after they used Cloud Gate, which was unveiled in 2006 and is known locally as "the Bean", in an advert.

He settled out of court with the NRA in 2018. "It's a bit more complicated with this," Kapoor said of this week's incident, "because they're a full, if you like, national army unit."