For centuries, man has been fascinated by whales, and since ancient times, myths and legends have arisen, beliefs and stories that have highlighted their symbolic and ambivalent nature: on one hand monstrous beings capable of swallowing ships and bringing destruction, on the other benevolent creatures, queens of the ocean.

One of the greatest literary icons inspired by these creatures is Moby Dick, the novel by Herman Melville published in 1851. In it, Captain Ahab obsessively pursues a gigantic white whale in a story full of symbolism and philosophical reflections.

Starting from the masterpiece of the American author to explore its multiple historical and symbolic interpretations, the Ducal Palace of Genoa hosts in the Doge's Apartment spaces, from October 11, 2025, to February 15, 2026, MOBY DICK - THE WHALE, a major collective exhibition that spans centuries and arts, building a complex and unprecedented exhibition experience.

The exhibition - part of the Genoa and the Nineteenth Century year promoted by the Municipality of Genoa - is curated by Ilaria Bonacossa and Marina Avia Estrada, with Michela Murialdo, and is realized in collaboration with TBA21-Ocean Space (Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Foundation). MOBY DICK - THE WHALE unfolds in a journey of discovery of a multifaceted artistic universe, ranging from medieval art to contemporary art, from the history of navigation to illustration, to science and biology.