The first Urban Fairy Tale comes to life as a book and a limited-edition artwork.
A story of friendship that celebrates freedom as the highest form of love. A snail, a child, and a world seen from a different perspective.
Cracking Art presents The Child and the Snail, the first title in Urban Fairy Tales, a new publishing series that brings the poetic, imaginative world of the collective’s celebrated installations into the realm of storytelling.
A tender yet powerful fairy tale, the story follows the encounter between a child and a snail, opening up a world of reflection on freedom, care, and respect. It reminds us that to love also means knowing when to let go, recognising the other’s freedom to follow their own path.
The Urban Fairy Tales series draws inspiration from the vibrant world of Cracking Art’s installations, where oversized animals in vivid colours temporarily inhabit urban spaces, transforming the way we experience familiar places and inviting us to see our surroundings through fresh eyes.
Each story will bring one of these creatures to life as the protagonist of a tale and a symbol of rebirth, awareness, and sharing.
With its gentle, poetic voice, Urban Fairy Tales speaks to children and adults alike, inviting readers to reflect on the importance of care, the fragility of our world, and the power of small gestures—gestures that can help shape a brighter future.
The Child and the Snail is a 40-page, full-colour book, featuring original illustrations and a hardcover binding.
Written in Italian, the story transports readers to a world suspended between reality and imagination, where the bond between the child and the snail becomes a metaphor for an encounter that transforms them both.
Completing the publishing project is Snail, a numbered and signed multiple artwork released in a limited edition of 300.
Depicting the iconic Cracking Art Snail, the artwork is created by engraving the same material used for the collective’s sculptures. This shared material establishes a direct connection—both tangible and conceptual—between the collectible piece and the large-scale installations that bring Cracking Art’s vision to life in urban spaces.
