Buenos Aires Floralis Generica Massive Metal Flower

Buenos Aires. Floralis Generica, massive metal flower... more

by Errol Wilson

Title

Buenos Aires Floralis Generica Massive Metal Flower

Artist

Errol Wilson

Medium

Photograph

Description

Buenos Aires. Floralis Generica, massive metal flower
Donated by Eduardo Catalo this massive metal flower is a nice place to visit�for ten minutes. Well, since it opens and closes with the sun via hydraulic machinery you might be able to spend a few more minutes if you time your evening or morning correctly. The �show� is more impressive at night because the lights around the base of the sculpture have more effect.
Inaugurated in April 2002, this gigantic flower has become one of the latest icons of Buenos Aires. Officially the flower goes by the name of Floralis Generica, but since nobody seems to be able to remember that 'scientific' name, it usually gets called the Steel Flower, sometimes preceded by the adjective BIG, and big this flower is being 23 metres high and weighing in at 18 tonnes. When the petals are open they span 32 metres and when closed only 16 metres. The architect of this original work is Buenos Aires born Eduardo Catalano.
One of the fascinating features of this sculpture is that it acts like a real flower in that its gigantic petals are open during the day and then close for the night with a red glow emanating from within. There are four special nights a year where the petals remain open: 25th May, 21st September and the 24th and 31st of December.
The Steel Flower is actually made of stainless steel and aluminum and sits in the center of a pool of water which reflects the flower and also protects it from vandals.

Uploaded

July 8th, 2013