Ministro Pistarini International Airport, better known as Ezeiza Airport in Argentina, is home to one of the most emblematic works of art by the artist Julio Le Parc. 

The sculpture is called "Sol" (Sun) and since 25 April 2024 it has been embellishing the airport space for the 35,000 people who pass through its corridors every day.

At the age of 96, Julio Le Parc is still active as an internationally renowned Argentinean artist. Known for his work in kinetic and optical art, his career has been characterised by constant experimentation with light, movement and visual perception, which has led him to create works that challenge the viewer. 

"Sol" is a monumental piece, the largest of his series of spheres. Le Parc was inspired by the Argentinean flag to develop his work, thus the gilding of the 2,960 square stainless steel plates with a shiny finish that make it up. Each one measures 33x33 centimetres, forming a diameter of 10 metres and weighing 2.3 tonnes. All of this is situated at a 19 metre height, which creates a unique visual play that varies according to the perspective of the observer and the lighting conditions. 

The choice of material for this work was no coincidence. 

Julio Le Parc opted for stainless steel, among other factors, because of its ability to reflect light in certain finishes. In "Sol", this characteristic is exploited to the maximum, allowing the work to interact with the natural and artificial lighting of the environment, providing a different and dynamic experience to the spectators who surround it. 

The artist's use of stainless steel is not only concentrated in this work. For example, in his series "Contorsiones" he applies polished stainless steel strips on a lined or white background, depending on the work, in which he reflects the contours and deforms them with his movement thanks to the incidence of light. 

The use of stainless steel in art is not new, but Le Parc has taken this material to new heights.