about the artists Six European artists formed the Cracking Art Group in 1993: Renzo Nucara Carlo Rizzetti Marco Veronese Alex Angi Kicco William Sweetlove In its REgeneration Art Projects, the group creates public art using recyclable plastic. They use plastic for its own aesthetic appeal, accepting the inevitability of our world becoming more and more artificial, and using the material s very artificiality to express their artistic sense. The plastic triggers a social phenomenon both the material and the art are available to everyone. Using recyclable plastic also demonstrates an intelligent use of this material, so vital in today s world. The name Cracking Art comes from the English verb to crack: to split, to break, to crack, to crash, to yield. Cracking is also the term for the chemical reaction that occurs when converting raw crude oil into plastic. For the artists, it represents the instant when something natural becomes artificial, which is the moment that they bring to us in the form of art: Cracking is the gap of the contemporary man struggling between a primary naturalness and a future that is more and more artificial. With their bold visuals, the artists of the Cracking Art Group aim to link their environmental consciousness to individuals through their installations, in which super size and vividly colored animals appear unexpectedly in everyday places. The surprise of seeing an ordinary subject made extraordinary by its size, color, and location makes passersby stop. These big vibrant animals invite viewers to re-examine their perspectives on urban life and inspire people to play with their cities. It is the artists hope that their art will eventually enable us to regenerate our natural and social environment into a healthy and animated space. Cracking Art has brought its message of social and environmental awareness to over 600 exhibitions worldwide, including an installation of blue turtles for the G8 Environmental Summit in Italy. The group s first appearance in the U.S. was in December 2010 with, as one journalist dubbed it, the escargatoire of pink snails in Miami.
about the gallery Galleria Ca d Oro, one of Rome s best known contemporary art galleries, is located in Piazza di Spagna overlooking the Spanish steps. It was established in 1970 by Antonio Porcella, son of Amadore Porcella, one of the most important art critics of the period and the grandson of Alpinolo Porcella, personal friend of great Italian Masters such as Filippo de Pisis and Giorgio de Chirico. Antonio Porcella is a current member of the de Chirico Foundation in Rome. Today four generations later Gloria Porcella leads the gallery. Raised in Rome, Gloria studied Art History at San Diego State University and worked as an appointed Councilor for a municipality of Rome in 1997, where she was responsible for the Cultural Commission and Head of the Culture Center of Rome. She also worked with Italy s Environmental Minister. Over the years, Gloria Porcella with her business partner Lamberto Petrecca, and the help of Architect Silvia Zamarion has curated several important exhibitions in Italy and in the United States, including Omaggio a de Chirico in New York, Los Angeles and Miami, which had aegis of the UN, patronage of Italian and foreign Institutions; and the sensational first installation of the REgeneration Art Project in Syracuse, Italy during the G8 Environmental Summit. In December 2010, during ArtBasel Miami, the Galleria Ca' d'oro Miami opened its doors at 135 San Lorenzo Avenue in Coral Gables with the placement of the unforgettable pink snails, extending the REgeneration Art Project to the United States. Today the gallery continues to bring its experience and expertise to the US, promoting Italian and European art with passion and enthusiasm.
REgeneration ART Project: a sample of past exhibitions 2011 Miami, USA - 45 Snails 2010 Rome, Italy - 2 Alligators, 30 Large Turtles 2009 Milan, Italy - 12 Large Snails 2009 Syracuse, Italy - 50 Large Turtles, 150 Small Turtles 2009 Brussels, Belgium - 150 Penguins, 8 Large Rabbits 2009 Paris, France - 150 Small Rabbits 2008 Paris, France - 6 Large Rabbits 2008 Prague, Czech Republic - 34 Penguins 2008 Tel Aviv, Israel - 10 Alligators, 50 Penguins, 50 Turtles 2007 Torino, Italy - 8 Alligators, 16 Large Turtles, 16 Small Turtles 2007 Bergamo, Italy - 500 Alligators, 800 Dolphins, 600 Penguins, 600 Bears, 1300 Birds, 500 Turtles, 200 Sheep 2005 Venice, Italy - 30 Penguins 2001 Venice, Italy - 1500 Turtles 1996 Milan, Italy - 300 Dolphins To name a few
A Sample of our Exhibitions 2009 Syracuse, Italy
2008 Prague, Czech Republic 2009 Brussels, Belgium 2009 Biella, Italy 2009 Brussels, Belgium
2007 Bergamo, Italy
1996 Milan, Italy 2007 Turin, Italy
2008 Tel Aviv, Israel
2007 Eupen, Belgium 2007 Rome, Italy
2009 Paris, France
2009 Paris, France
2009 Paris, France
2009 Milan, Italy 2010 Miami, USA 2011 Ca d Oro Gallery, Miami, USA
the next step Ca d'oro Gallery & Cracking Art Group are working together to get their message to major cities everywhere. What s so special about these animals? The snail embodies our message and fits the language of art. The snail carries with it several metaphors: Listen - its shape resembles the human ear; Live - the snail carries its house and is virtually enclosed in its house when necessary; on- Line - a symbol which references communication-in particular-internet communication (In Italy the @ sign used in email is called snail. The rabbit is known for its playfulness as well as its role in mythology, symbolism and the History of Arts. As a symbol of luck, of the ambivalent, of procreation, of lust, of magic and more, rabbits are a source of inspiration for the artists. The final and most important value is that the animals are made of recyclable plastic. Cracking Art Group s REgeneration Art Projects leave an artistic trace in the metropolitan territory that allows an approach to nature and the environment that is aesthetically pleasing, ethically responsible and leaves an indelible impact on the community.
from the press:
Cracking Art Snails The BIG Snail: 10' 6" in length, 6' in width, and 7' 7" in height (320x184x230 cm) Weight: 265 Lbs (120 Kg) The Small Snail: 3' 9" in length, 2' 2 in width, and 2' 9" in height (115x66x85 cm) Edition: BIG, 8+4 for each color, signed and numbered; Small 99 Colors: Yellow, Orange, Red, Fuchsia, Pink, Light Blue, Blue, Green, Turquoise, Black, White
Cracking Art Rabbits The BIG Rabbit: 9' 10" in length, 5' 3 in width, and 8' 10" in height (300x160x270 cm) Weight: 265 Lbs (120 Kg) The Small Rabbit: 3' 4" in length, 1' 9 in width, and 2' 10" in height (102x54x87 cm) Edition: BIG 33 for each color signed and numbered; Small 99 Colors: Yellow, Orange, Red, Fuchsia, Pink, Light Blue, Blue, Green, Black, White