Moby Dick – The Whale, History of a Myth from Antiquity to Contemporary Art

For centuries, humankind has been fascinated by whales. Since antiquity, myths and legends and tales have highlighted their symbolic and ambivalent nature: on one side, monstrous beings capable of swallowing ships and wreaking destruction; on the other, benevolent creatures, queens of the ocean.

One of the greatest literary icons is Moby-Dick, Herman Melville’s novel published in 1851. In it, Ishmael recounts the story of Captain Ahab in his obsessive hunt of a giant white whale in a story rich with symbolism, philosophical e political reflections.

Palazzo Ducale in Genoa will host a major group exhibition inspired by this American masterpiece, exploring the myth of the whale, its many historical and symbolic interpretations: from the struggle between man and nature to the eternal conflict of good and evil, from passion and vengeance to themes of travel and discovery.

Reading Moby-Dick is itself a titanic undertaking, with its blend of diverse literary genres. Drawing on this multiplicity, MOBY DICK – THE WHALE, on view in the Doge’s Apartment from October 12, 2025 to February 15, 2026, takes visitors on a journey through a multifaceted artistic universe, spanning from medieval to contemporary art, from maritime history to illustration.

The exhibition—part of the program Genoa and the 19th Century promoted by the City of Genoa, —features large-scale video installations, sculptures, harpoons, canvases, photographs, and engravings. Through these, it explores the universal themes of Melville’s extraordinary novel, weaving together perspectives from different eras, disciplines, and adaptations. The story extends beyond literature into visual art, music, cinema, science, and biology.

Moby Dick, Captain Ahab, and his crew also intersect with Genoa’s maritime history and its sea: the International Ligurian Sea Cetacean Sanctuary, a protected area of over 100,000 square kilometers—mostly international waters—dedicated to safeguarding marine species while promoting sustainable navigation and observation.

Artists: A Constructed World, Mario Airò, John Akomfrah, Elisabetta Benassi, Guy Ben-ner, Agostino Bonalumi, Dadamaino, Tacita Dean, Mark Dion, Giovanni Gariboldi, Clara Hastrup, Carsten Holler, Emilio Isgrò, Joan Jonas, Francesco Jodice, Claudia Losi, Jumana Manna, Piero Manzoni, Arturo Martini, Fausto Melotti, Marzia Migliora, Mauro Panichella, Pino Pascali, Paola Pivi, Alberto Rosselli, Thomas Ruff, Libero Rutilo, Elena Konig Scavini, Mario Sturani, Turi Simeti, Teresa Solar, Alberto Tadiello, Wu Tsang, Janaina Tschäpe, Cosima Von Bonin, Dominique White, Ines Zenha