The school as a space for art.
Giant wolves, brightly colored frogs, and snails made of regenerated plastic inhabit the corridors of a school. It sounds like the beginning of a fairy tale, but it is an everyday reality at the De Amicis Institute in Rovigo, which, with the project “Colorful Safari,” has chosen to break down the boundaries between education and contemporary art.
The peaceful invasion of Cracking Art
In Rovigo, this “invasion” has found a home across the two De Amicis campuses: 15 artworks that have transformed the institute into a true “spread-out” art gallery, capable of surprising and engaging the eye every day.
Students: from spectators to protagonists
The real strength of “Colorful Safari” lies not only in the sculptures, but in the way the school has embraced the project. The students, in fact, have become an active part of the experience. one of the founders of the movement, students have become active participants in the experience:
Students from the Graphic Design and Communication program have shaped the visual identity of the initiative, bringing creativity and design skills into play.
Students from the Tourism program have become true cultural mediators, guiding visitors through the artworks and explaining the philosophy of the movement, in an experience that combines education with real professional practice.
A project that not only brings art into unconventional spaces, but also makes it alive, participatory, and deeply educational.
Dondup and Cracking Art come together in a fusion of fashion and contemporary art during Milan Design Week at the store on Via della Spiga 50.
Dondup opens the doors of its Via della Spiga store in Milan for a unique immersive experience, where the brand’s language engages in dialogue with the creative energy of Cracking Art. An Italian fashion brand rooted in high-quality denim, Dondup has built a strong and recognizable identity based on research and attention to detail. Today, the brand is undergoing a phase of evolution. The goal? To embrace more contemporary and dynamic forms of expression while preserving its core values. The iconic snails of Cracking Art animate the Dondup space.
A path of renewal that is reflected not only in new collections, but also in design choices and collaborations, increasingly oriented toward experimentation and cross-contamination. The meeting with Cracking Art arose spontaneously, coherently, and naturally. Founded in Biella in 1993, the artistic movement revolutionized the language of contemporary art through the use of regenerated plastic. Its installations—ironic, colorful, and easily recognizable—bring art outside conventional spaces.
As part of the Italian Contemporary Art Week and ARCO Madrid, the Italian Cultural Institute presents an installation by Cracking Art, an artistic movement known for its urban installations featuring animal figures. Cracking Art was founded in 1993 with the aim of changing the history of art through a strong environmental commitment which, combined with an innovative use of plastic materials, evokes the close relationship between nature and artificial reality.
The installation consists of a group of frogs invading the façade of the Palazzo di Abrantes, ironically evoking their croaking: a background noise that becomes a metaphor for the constant debate surrounding contemporary art. Meanwhile, wolves, swallows, and snails enter the interior of the palace, expressing a characteristic antinomy of our time—between natural and artificial life—in order to convey an “alternative” vision of the world and of history.
Exhibition open to the public from March 6, 2026
From 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Tuesday to Saturday; closed on Mondays and public holidays
The collaboration between chef Paolo Griffa and Cracking Art was born from the desire to bring together art and taste in a small moment of wonder.
The Cracking Art marmot sculpture becomes “Too Cute To Eat” an iconic chocolate that is as delicious as it is irresistible.
Like in a contemporary fairy tale, art turns sweet and chocolate becomes sculpture—an ideal symbol of creativity and playful exchange between two worlds that speak the same language: emotion.
Each box contains 16 marmots in 8 different flavors.
Follow the link to purchase:
https://paologriffa.com/prodotto/natale/marmotte-too-cute-to-eat-paolo-griffa-cracking-art/
Symbolic Animals Between Architecture and Urban Landscape
Vercelli hosts the new exhibition project by the international Cracking Art movement. A poetic invasion of brightly colored, symbolic animals—crafted from regenerated plastic—animates squares, historic courtyards, public spaces, and the city’s most significant architectural landmarks, creating a new dialogue between contemporary art, sustainability, and the urban landscape.
Artnature was conceived to reconnect the artificial with the natural, offering the public an immersive experience that inspires both wonder and reflection. In a city of water and history like Vercelli—where rice fields mirror the Romanesque and Gothic silhouettes of the old town—Cracking Art’s installations emerge as regenerative signs within the urban fabric, weaving a fresh ecological and cultural narrative.
The project unfolds as a city-wide itinerary, where each animal—frog, meerkat, wolf, snail, swallow—embodies a symbolic meaning, engaging in dialogue with the identity of its setting. From the majestic Basilica of Sant’Andrea to the central piazzas and more hidden, memory-laden corners, Vercelli is transformed into a narrative ecosystem where regenerated plastic becomes not only material but also message.
Artnature reflects the very essence of the Cracking Art movement, long committed to recycling, environmental sustainability, and the relationship between humanity and nature. Each installation invites us to look at our surroundings with new eyes, to question the way we inhabit the world, and to rediscover art as a tool for awareness and renewal.
September 10, 2025 – February 10, 2026
From April 1 to September 30, 2025, guests can wander through the garden and encounter 80 vividly colored artworks in the forms of rabbits, elephants, geese, snails, wolves, and swallows as they playfully interact with the natural surroundings.
These sculptures, made from regenerated plastic, highlight the creative potential of recycled materials while inspiring a deeper appreciation for sustainable living.
Designed to captivate visitors of all ages, it combines playful creativity with a powerful message, inspiring joy while sparking meaningful conversations about sustainability and environmental conservation.
Starting Wednesday, April 30th, the streets, squares, and public spaces of Arona (NO) will be literally taken over by the works of Cracking Art.
Colorful, surprising, and out of scale, the sculptures represent symbolic animals such as frogs, dolphins, crocodiles, elephants, penguins, and snails. These artworks will interact with both the urban and natural landscapes, particularly along the lakeside and at the city’s main historical and tourist landmarks.
“We wanted to bring a powerful and immediate message to the heart of our city,” stated the Mayor of Arona, Hon. Alberto Gusmeroli. “This peaceful invasion of artworks allows us to speak to citizens about sustainability, beauty, and respect for the environment through an artistic language accessible to all. It’s an initiative that combines culture, environmental education, and enhancement of our territory.”
The project, promoted by the municipal administration, was conceived and realized in collaboration with the artists of the collective.
“Each installation was designed to interact with a specific location in our city,” explained the Councillor for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Alessandra Marchesi. “The choice of animals, their colors, and positioning follows a coherent and meaningful plan: to create wonder, yes, but also to spark reflection on urgent themes such as climate change, responsible resource use, and the relationship between nature and artificiality. In this way, Arona becomes an open-air stage, engaging both adults and children in a unique aesthetic and educational experience.”
The exhibition is conceived as a tour-like itinerary that symbolically traces the connection between the city and water—an essential natural element and a symbol of rebirth, transformation, and connection among living beings. The elephant gazes at the lake as if monitoring the vital water levels; the crocodile emerges menacingly as a warning about pollution; the frogs, amphibious and ever-changing, offer a bridge between elements; the penguins seek coolness, while the dolphins invite us into a visual game that speaks of harmony and respect.
With this initiative, Arona reaffirms its commitment to promoting a culture that is accessible, environmentally conscious, and capable of generating a positive impact on the community and the urban landscape.
The public is invited to be surprised, to reflect, and to engage with these unexpected presences—symbols of an art that is born from waste and transformed into beauty, inspiration, and change.
ARONA (NO) Italy, Lungolago, via Cavour e piazza del Popolo.
Fluorescent frogs in the weight room, oversized snails by the pool, and extra-large bears and bunnies welcoming members at the reception desk: more than 90 animals will take over Virgin Active Clubs in Milan during Milan Design Week. This “silent invasion” — vibrant, pop-inspired, and colorful — is brought to life by Cracking Art, an international art collective and pioneer in the use of regenerated plastic as a language of disruption and renewal.
The initiative involves three Virgin Active Clubs in Milan — Milano Cavour, Milano Piazzale Lodi, and Milano Bocconi — transforming them into dynamic exhibition spaces, open to interaction, imagination, and movement.
The project stems from a deep connection: both Virgin Active and Cracking Art speak to active communities, bound by physical, cultural, and social movement. While Virgin Active has always promoted an active and inclusive lifestyle, Cracking Art has embraced movement as an artistic philosophy: their works are made to be touched, moved, and experienced. The audience is not just a spectator, but part of the artwork itself. Art becomes an experience — just like the workouts offered by Virgin Active.
The artworks on display — including cats, dogs, bears, rabbits, snails, penguins, meerkats, and frogs — are made from regenerated plastic using an innovative industrial process that minimizes waste and environmental impact. The bright colors and oversized forms, hallmarks of Cracking Art’s style, blend with the contemporary architecture of the Clubs, creating a visual dialogue between design, wellness, and sustainability. Each installation sends a clear message: to create visual impact in order to spark reflection, engagement, and awareness.
The Gentle Invasion of Nature into the City
A colorful procession advances from nature into the city. Rabbits, swallows, and frogs emerge from the park and pour into urban spaces in a gentle invasion—a collective movement reminiscent of Pellizza da Volpedo’s historic march, Il Quarto Stato. But here, it is not people who set out on their journey; it is the animals—the Third Estate, the silent people of nature—reclaiming their place in the artificial world of the city.
This installation by Cracking Art transforms the urban landscape into a stage where biodiversity manifests with renewed energy. Swallows, symbols of freedom, soar through the sky, leading the way. Rabbits stride proudly across sidewalks and squares, while frogs conquer every space with their unpredictable leaps. It is a peaceful wave carrying a powerful message: nature is no longer on the margins but takes center stage.
Made from regenerated plastic, these animals represent the dialogue between sustainability and urban life. Spring Up is an invitation to see the world with fresh eyes and to welcome nature as an integral part of the city.
Art becomes movement. Nature becomes presence. The invasion has begun.
Milano – Cascina Merlata Spazio Vivo
via Pier Paolo Pasolini, 3
The new artwork by the Cracking Art collective comes to light with an installation at the Natural Science Museum of the Aosta Valley and in the town of Saint-Pierre (AO).
A total of 23 sculptures depicting the marmot will be showcased as part of Cracking Art’s latest project, created in collaboration with the Efisio Noussan Natural Science Museum of the Aosta Valley.
It is in this very museum that the Lyskamm Marmot is preserved. Retrieved from the glacier of the same name in the summer of 2022, it is the oldest mummified specimen ever found in Italy, dating back to the Neolithic period (approximately 4,500 years ago). Climate change, which is causing a rapid and progressive deterioration of the Alpine ecosystem, has brought to light the remains of an ancient and distant past.
The marmot specimen has been placed in a specially designed display case, ensuring its preservation for over 500 years. The internal environment is oxygen-free, with customizable and finely calibrated chemical-physical parameters to prevent deterioration. Its operation does not require electricity and is entirely eco-sustainable.
This extraordinary discovery has inspired a collaboration between the scientific museum and the artistic collective, celebrating the return to light of an animal that continues to characterize our mountains and is associated with numerous cultural and symbolic meanings.
Connected to the awakening of nature in springtime, the Groundhog Day tradition is well known as a prediction of winter’s duration. This makes the marmot a symbol of climate change, which is also disrupting the traditional knowledge once relied upon to guide human activities.
“Returned to the light”—this is how the museum welcomed the specimen to its collection. Its millennia-long slumber mirrors the long periods marmots naturally spend hibernating in their burrows, for up to six months at a time. The idea of continuous rebirth is thus deeply connected to the life of this charming rodent, which, when awake, serves as a true sentinel, keenly observing its surroundings.
“Depicting the marmot was one of our long-held dreams,” say the artists of the collective, “and dreaming is likely a key element during their long periods of sleep.”
“Celebrating life through play—the marmot’s favorite activity when awake—is a great source of joy for us, and we hope that our artworks will inspire visitors to explore this beautiful museum, which tells the story of landscapes so familiar to us.”
As is their tradition, the artists have created the sculptures in an oversized scale (125 cm in height) and in vivid colors, as their goal is not to produce naturalistic replicas but to craft a fantastic bestiary that represents our time—favoring forms and colors that evoke emotion and stimulate empathy.
