Cracking Nature

Four years after their first collaboration—during which the artwork Goose was unveiled in its world premiere—the Cracking Art collective returns to Parco Giardino Sigurtà with Cracking Nature, an extraordinary open-air exhibition spread throughout the Garden.

Until 17 September 2026, the Park’s 60 hectares of unspoilt nature are transformed into a vast open-air museum through Cracking Nature, featuring 162 artistic installations depicting colourful animals.

The artworks, harmoniously integrated into the Garden’s natural landscape and ranging in size from one to three metres, are made from regenerated and recyclable plastic. The name Cracking Art derives from the English verb "to crack", meaning to split, break, fracture or collapse. Catalytic cracking is also the name of the chemical process that transforms crude oil into plastic. For the artists, this marks the moment when the natural becomes artificial and the organic becomes synthetic—a transformation they seek to express through their art.

Described by the curators as one of the collective's most significant international installations, the exhibition features representations of the Dolphin, Wolf, Snail, Frog, Wild Goose, Penguin, Marmot, Turtle, Rabbit, Crocodile, Swallow and Elephant, set among hornbeams, boxwoods and maples.

Visitors will enjoy an immersive experience where contemporary art and nature engage in a continuous dialogue, in the Park's flat area just a short walk from the entrance. The exhibition also revolves around a symbolic and engaging question: "Which animal best represents you?" Visitors are invited to reflect on the behaviours, instincts and characteristics shared by both the animal and human worlds. To enrich this experience, special maps will be distributed at the Garden's ticket office. These guides include amusing and insightful content, encouraging everyone to discover which animal they most resemble, with all their strengths and imperfections.