DAV – Department of Visual Arts in Soresina (CR) Hosts “CRACKING ART LOVES HISTORY”
A monographic exhibition dedicated to the internationally acclaimed artistic collective, as part of the celebrations for their 30th anniversary.
Founded in the early 1990s (1993), Cracking Art has been committed from its inception to radically transforming the perception of art history through a strong social and environmental engagement, combined with a revolutionary use of plastic materials that highlight the increasingly close relationship between natural life and artificial reality.
Three key aspects define their approach:
- The Name and its Significance
The name Cracking Art itself hints at the process central to their philosophy. The English verb to crack primarily means to break, fracture, or collapse, reflecting the catalytic action of the chemical reaction that transforms crude oil into plastic (fluid catalytic cracking). For the group, this moment signifies the transition of the natural into the artificial, the organic into the synthetic—a transformation they aim to represent through their art. While their intention to break conventions aligns them with the most avant-garde contemporary art, their use of petroleum derivatives as primary materials overturns traditional hierarchies regarding the “nobility” of artistic mediums.
- Creating a New Nature
The second key aspect lies in the creation of a new nature—man-made and for mankind—through plastic, an inanimate material symbolic of consumer culture. Once considered almost irrecoverable except at great expense, plastic is reimagined by Cracking Art as the foundation for a new animal universe capable of repopulating human habitats.
- A Visionary Approach to Sustainability
Since its beginnings, the group has believed in the possibility of both a physical and conceptual recovery of materials. This vision has been realized through advancements in technology, allowing destruction and regeneration systems to integrate into new processes. Their latest works demonstrate this approach, such as the “Caosmo” series showcased in the main hall of the DAV. These pieces, with their painterly surfaces, are crafted from shredded sculptures previously used in installations, highlighting the infinite transformation potential of plastic, as Roland Barthes described.
In addition to iconic works that have defined Cracking Art over the decades, the exhibition will feature an exclusive new sculpture created specifically for this event. Handcrafted, it will depict a modernized version of the Ephesian Artemis (2nd century CE), a symbol of the goddess Artemis’s worship in Ephesus, where she was venerated as queen of nature and ruler of wild beasts.
The exhibition will also include three vibrant and immediately recognizable urban installations. Located between the DAV and Soresina’s most prominent squares, these majestic and playful sculptures will integrate into the city’s urban fabric for the duration of the event, spreading Cracking Art’s poetic sincerity—full of ideas, joy, strength, color, and determination.
CRACKING ART LOVES HISTORY
December 15, 2024 – January 26, 2025
DAV – Department of Visual Arts
Via Matteotti 2/4 – Soresina (CR)
OPENING
Sunday, December 15, at 5:30 PM
HOURS
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM / 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Weekdays: By appointment
FOR INFO AND VISITS:
Email: dav.soresina@gmail.com
Phone: +39 340 5419476
FREE ENTRY
