Our mall is more than just a place to shop. It's a gathering place — a shared space where everyone can come together to share memorable experiences. Partnering with artist collective, Cracking Art, we’ve brought our community an awe-inspiring exhibition filled with vibrant meerkat sculptures made of regenerated plastic, sparking a community-wide conversation about caring for our environment and each other. Discover groups of meerkats standing in harmony, bringing a sense of wonder and togetherness throughout Oakbrook Center. Join us for this one-of-a-kind experience.
The exhibit is located near West Elm.
The exhibit will be at Oakbrook Center from August 3 - 30.
This is a free art exhibit. Bring your friends!
As well known, the Meerkat is a small animal living in places characterized by extreme climate conditions; its survival is only possible thanks to the mutual collaboration in all daily activities. The installation intent is to represent the importance of collaboration for dealing with and overcoming the events in our everyday life. In addition, by using vibrant and bright colors we want to highlight the relevance of living with an open and positive approach.
Since prehistoric times, animals have been the very first lineup with nature. Men and animals are, indeed, animated beings, endowed with evident functions and movements. Over time, we assigned them power, meanings and features to better understand the universe and nature. In the same way, Cracking Art uses this cultural tradition to make them “messengers” for contemporary reality’s ideas. As a result, each new artwork is crafted on the “message” it does entrust.
Cracking Art, a collective of artists from Italy, France, and Belgium, creates public installations of massive sculptural animals made from brightly colored regenerable plastic. Founded in 1993, the group sees its work as an ethical necessity in the face of environmental degradation.