When the line between figurative art and architecture blurs, it’s usually in the form of sculptural organic structures, like the spiraling shell house by Javier Senosiain, or kitschy roadside attractions like the dog-shaped bed-and-breakfast in Cottonwood, Idaho. Massive urban skyscraper projects in the shape of recognizable objects are far less common, but leave it to Dubai to be among the first cities to bring one to life.

The “Clothespin Tower,” designed by Israeli artist Zygo, aims to be the world’s largest work of art at 558 feet (170 meters) tall. Small, humble, and universally familiar, the clothespin seems like an odd object to choose as the basis for a super-tall tower, let alone one that will light up the cityscape with its neon outline. But for the artist, the clothespin is an important symbol, frequently appearing in his body of work.
“ZYGO is an anonymous artist identified with the iconic clothespin. The icon constructed by two segments joined together, in a manner which is inspired and reminiscent of the generic shape of a utility clothespin,” Zygo says on Instagram. “The #Clothespin structure had become identified with #Zygo art in recent years, as an expression of divine love: two halved souls, such as the two halves of the clothespin, come together in a sacred union that is ‘a parting for connection.’ The distinctiveness of the clothespin structure stems from its balanced dynamic shape, prosaic and spe...