An Enchanted Garden

Spetember 27 | November 5 |

A Cracking Art installation in the Giardino del Manzoni of Gallerie d’Italia to celebrate 10 years since the realization of the giant crocodile

From the 27th of September to the 5th of November 2017, Gallerie d’Italia in Piazza della Scalla in Milan is the stage for a new installation from the Cracking Art collective. Born in Biella in 1993 with their army of colored animals, the group has invaded (peacefully) the many cities of the world- passing from America to Russia, Azerbaijan to China, through Belgium, France, Israel, and the Czech Republic.
In this continual passage, some animals still guard their newly discovered places in unexpected ways. This is what happened in 2007 with the red crocodile. After its exhibition at the Oriocenter and the Piazza della Scalla from the balconies of Palazzo Beltrami (the office of the then Councilor of Culture Vittorio Sgarbi), it became a part of the permanent collection of Intesa San Paolo in the Giardino del Manzoni, an integral part of the prestigious cultural pole of Milan.
The new collaboration between Gallerie d’Italia and the Collective pays homage to and celebrates the exact ten years since the birth of the gigantic and colorful reptile. The first to be invited to the special party (and those who will initiate the official installation), are his fellow animal friends who come to visit him. 70 brightly colored, re-generable polyethylene snails, wolves, meerkats, and swallows will be guests of the Milanese museum, animating the garden of great writer Alessandro Manzoni.
Thus, the garden, one of the greatest topoi and loci amoeni of novels and literature in general, continues to be the protagonist of a new tale.
Cracking Art, for over twenty years and with more than 400 installations, has always been creating contemporary urban fables. We adults can return as children for a few moments and learn a lesson from every story: the importance of seeing but also watching, listening but also hearing, and admiring the city with different eyes. In this way the streets, corners, and gardens, including Manzoni’s, will no longer be hidden paradises, but places discovered again and again.

 

Where:

Gallerie d’Italia – Piazza della Scala, 6 – Milano

Opening time:

ore 9.30am – 7.30pm (last entry ore 6.30pm)