It seems to me some sort of recursive environmental statement. Like we are re-making nature from our processing of parts of nature itself. Like "our manufactures are the new nature". If so, then match sticks or popsicle stick shapes would perhaps be more poignant here, but I still like this thing just because it's large and peculiar and makes you wonder if this is where all the birds from the Cuckoo clocks are caught.

Follow up: After mercurial's comments, I went back to the site and snapped this pic:

So if you're the kind of person that other people tend to try to set on fire, you might consider wearing some of this stuff.
2 comments:
the sculpture is called "cityscape", by belgian artist arne quinze. here's the site:
http://www.cityscape.be/Public/index.html
the artist says a manta ray was his main source of inspiration (for its shape, i assume), but offers no other clues as to the structure's intent (at least, as far as i was willing to search; i am at work).
the sculpture will be on display for a year, after which it will be dismantled, and its components recycled.
interestingly, the entire structure has been saturated with a new fireproof substance called "flame safe", which is 90% water, according to the cityscape.be blog, and should dissuade any would-be firebugs from attempting to steal their moment of glory.
however, an earlier work by quinze, "uchronia", which was built for burning man 2006, was of course set ablaze as part of the tradition of that festival.
some really nice photos of "uchronia", from flickr:
distance shot of entire structure:
http://flickr.com/photos/benjcarson/245171564/
a distance shot from a more interesting angle:
http://flickr.com/photos/exuberance/237236411/
laser/light show, with giant flowers, in and around the sculpture:
http://flickr.com/photos/loupiote/237500364/
uchronia nightmare:
http://flickr.com/photos/d_a_v_i_d_m_/246306787/
Thanks for all the background! After your post I went back over there and found a small sign on the benches. I added the photo to the main post.
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