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What the heck is this? (in piazza Strozzi)

I was in piazza Strozzi in Florence last night and saw this new public sculpture (at least, I guess that’s what it is intended to be) with no sign. Apparently, we are to guess… “what the heck is this?” !!! Post your answers below. Creative, vaguely rude, or even factual answers welcome. Please address artist, title, medium, and function :-) if known!!

There is no prize, only entertainment. By the end of the week I’ll try to find out the real answer for ya.

Give me a name and a purpose, please

UPDATE 27/08/09: Here is a daytime photo to better help with your ID’s. Thanks to the excellent animal-related suggestions given so far. We are close to solving the UAO (unidentified art object) mystery.

daytime photo of the UAO

And the answer is:

It is a volcanic rock fused into bronze sculpture called “The fall of the Meteorites in the vital hours preceding their vision” by artist Bizhan Bassiri (born Teheran 1954). It is part of the comemorative year of Galileo 2009, in that it reminds us of the great scientists’s discoveries. The sculpture arrived in piazza Strozzi May 21 2009 was due to be removed Aug 30 but is still there. It’s a part of an installation series that is also currently going in in Ghent and Rome.

Submitted by arttrav on August 24, 2009 – 11:00 amView Comments

oriana

swordfish?
Gianluca

I think is a Narwhal tusks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narval
http://www.wanderingeducators.com/marketplace/apparel/dansko-shoes-review.html jessiev

a fossil of a unicorn horn.
admin

funny, your brother said the same thing. I think it is a big bronze cast of a gigantic snot.
audrey

Decade long work of a dung beatle colony?
http://www.insidersabroad.com Georgette

hahah dung beatle colony was my favorite.. love the ideas but what about the statue in front of Palazzo pitti? I am still trying to figure out what THAT is!
admin

good question. Do you have a photo? we can post it and ask the same question. The dung beatle colony was my mom’s idea .
http://www.insidersabroad.com/ Georgette

hahah dung beatle colony was my favorite.. love the ideas but what about the statue in front of Palazzo pitti? I am still trying to figure out what THAT is!