Floralis Genérica, Monumental Sculptures & Modern Buenos Aires

Floralis Genérica (the monumental stainless steel and aluminum kinetic sculpture by Argentine architect Eduardo Catalano, donated to the city of Buenos Aires in 2002, standing 23 metres tall and weighing 18 tonnes in Plaza de las Naciones Unidas (United Nations Square) in Recoleta): the sculpture is designed with hydraulic petals that open at dawn and close at dusk (and during certain national commemorations), creating a giant mechanical flower that tracks the daily rhythm of light — one of the most beloved public sculptures in South America.