by Redazione 02/11/2026
Categories: Exhibitions / Disclaimer
The Diocesan Museum of Genoa is hosting OLTREMARE, an exhibition that traces twenty centuries of cultural exchange, trade, and artistic influences through the history of the color blue. A journey through ancient works, precious materials, and contemporary creations.
Blue as the common thread running through twenty centuries of trade, travel, and encounters between civilizations: this is the theme of OLTREMARE, the exhibition that will be on view at the Diocesan Museum of Genoa from November 19, 2026, to February 21, 2027. From the Mediterranean routes all the way to China, the exhibition aims to reconstruct the history of a color that is not only a natural and symbolic element but also a precious material, one that fosters economic exchange, technical innovation, and artistic cross-pollination.
Curated by Elisabetta Raffo and Loredana Pessa, featuring contemporary artistic contributions by Davide Quadrio and with scientific support from Paola Martini of the Diocesan Museum, the exhibition brings together raw materials, historical works of art, and contemporary creations. The result is a fresh perspective on Genoa’s role in the major commercial and cultural networks that, over the centuries, have contributed to the creation of a shared artistic heritage, while also prompting reflection on the possible connections between culture and the Blue Economy.
Blue, the color of the sea and the sky, has always been an element capable of bridging geographical distances and cultural differences, connecting distant peoples and traditions. Its history is intertwined with that of the materials used to produce it, the processing techniques, and the routes along which pigments and artifacts traveled between continents.
It is from this perspective that OLTREMARE takes shape, promoted and organized by the Bruschettini Foundation for Islamic and Asian Art in collaboration with the Diocesan Museum of Genoa, the San Lorenzo Social Enterprise Foundation, and the Il Secolo XIX Foundation.
At the heart of the exhibition project is Genoa, a historic port city that was not only a port of call for goods and travelers but also a place of production, transformation, and cultural reinterpretation. Its identity has, in fact, developed through centuries of relations with the Mediterranean and Eurasia, in a continuous exchange of knowledge, materials, and artistic languages. Through a narrative that weaves together art history, economics, science, and material culture, the exhibition aims to convey the complexity of these relationships, demonstrating how trade and the circulation of materials contributed to the spread of artistic techniques, forms, and sensibilities.
The exhibition will be complemented by a program of related events dedicated to the relationships between art, history, science, and the cultures of the Mediterranean and Eurasia, which will be presented at the opening. The exhibition is organized with the support of the Liguria Region, the City of Genoa, the Passadore 1888 Foundation, Webuild Group, SAAR dp s.p.a., Ponte Ter S.p.A., and the MSC Foundation.
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| In Genoa, an exhibition traces twenty centuries of art, trade, and travel through the color blue |
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