If you were wondering where the translucent mummies on cots on University Avenue in Provo came from, you're not alone.

When the bodies showed up early Friday morning at approximately 200 South, many residents were confused about what they were, and why they were on a vacant lot. People even called the police, who didn't know what they were either. One man even said he'd thought about calling Homeland Security about the bodies.

Ryan Neely, owner of the downtown Mode Boutique, said he created the bodies of art as a reminder of what used to occupy the lot, the Hotel Roberts.

"I wanted to do an installation to bring at least a little bit of attention that a beautiful hotel used to be there," he said.

Neely said he found it frustrating that the Hotel Roberts was torn down during the night three and a half years ago. He said the situation was similar to the demolition of the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church earlier this year.

The buildings were two of the last Spanish mission-style structures in the area, Neely said, and more could have been done to save them.

"As a community, we're letting our heritage get destroyed," he said.

Neely said the 13 bodies made of plastic wrap and packing tape cost approximately $400. He began setting up the display at 11 p.m. Thursday night, and didn't finish until 2 in the morning.

It took a couple of months to finish the project using friends as molds, Neely said, and if he had the budget, similar creations would have filled the entire lot. Even with the small number of bodies on the lot, they have a special significance.

"I wanted to put some people sleeping in some beds where the hotel used to be," he said.

He said the art was meant to be subtle, but to bring attention to the fact that the city's culture is destroyed along with historic buildings. Many residents may not understand the subtlety of the art because they do not remember the old hotel, but that is part of the problem.

"Citizens in Provo have forgotten about it, and that's the danger of these buildings getting torn down," he said. "They get forgotten."

Neely said he created the artwork with the understanding that not everyone would understand it. He said he put up the display in the middle of the night because he feared he would be stopped.

Although the bodies have thus far only suffered wind damage, Neely said he understands that someone may harm the art or remove it before he has a chance to take it down himself.

Provo police Sgt. Aaron Mullins said he was not aware of who had put up the art or why, but the department is not likely to remove it. The police would only remove the art if it were a hazard or offensive.

"Being private property, the city's not going to tear it down," Mullins said. "If it were on public property, we would have taken it down already."

Mullins said the department is not concerned with the art unless the owner of the property chooses to file a report.

Neely is a member of the Sego Arts Foundation, a group that recently protested the destruction of the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Maht Paulos, who is one of the founders of the group, said he was aware of the project, but the Sego Arts Foundation was not involved in its production.

Although Neely acted alone, Paulos said his idea goes along with the principles of the foundation, which works to preserve the culture of historic downtown Provo.

"We're really into doing non-destructive street art that is ambiguous enough and still cause-based," Paulos said.

Neely said he is very involved with the downtown area and its development. The artwork is not meant to protest or place blame for the destruction of the hotel, but he hopes it will draw attention to old buildings that have been torn down and save other buildings from the same fate.

"It's more of a prevention than it is looking at the past," he said. "I don't want this to happen to any more buildings in Provo."