Split-Rocker: Jeff Koons’ Giant Flower-Covered Creature Blooms at Rockefeller Center

It’s alive! World-famous artist Jeff Koons’ giant, flower-covered Split-Rocker has finally arrived at Rockefeller Center and passersby seem to be enjoying the living sculpture immensely. Presented by the <a href="http://www.publicartfund.org" target="_blank">Public Art Fund</a>, the soaring statue is blanketed with a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/gsky-spruces-up-organic-avenues-new-flagship-store-with-a-verdant-living-wall/" target="_blank">green skin</a> made up of a rainbow of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/topiary-joes-incredible-green-garden-sculptures/" target="_blank">fresh flora</a>. The half-hobby horse/half-dinosaur will greet 30 Rock visitors until October 19th.

The lush Split-Rocker is perched above Rockefeller Center’s famous golden Prometheus sculpture, which guards the ice rink in the winter and the outdoor restaurant in warmer months.

All throughout the summer, visitors are welcome to stop and smell the flowers- growing out of the critter’s head!

The 37 foot tall sculpture is covered like a Chia pet with over <a href="http://inhabitat.com/atelier-kempe-thills-living-hedge-building-is-completely-wrapped-in-ivy/" target="_blank">50,000 flower plants</a>, each carefully cared for by a special gardening crew.

Underneath the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/green-box-act_romegialli-transforms-a-rustic-shed-into-a-living-plant-wrapped-oasis/" target="_blank">living green skin</a>, Split-Rocker is made of a stainless steel frame, covered with geotextile fabric and soil.

The verdant sculpture adds a pop of color to the iconic plaza.

An internal irrigation system keeps the sculpture’s green layer fresh and blooming, monitored by a gardening crew.

The sculpture will fluctuate and change throughout the summer as the flowers grow, wilt and die, showing the cycle of life before the eyes of visitors.

The living bouquet of flowers enlightens the famous Rockefeller Center courtyard, after popping up in Versailles, Fondation Beyeler and the Palais des Papes over the years.

The fresh sculpture coincides with Koons’ retrospective at The Whitney Museum, which opened in late June and includes 150 objects from the artist made since 1978.