Ligustro, Joy of Living: Japanese Prints on Display at the Chiossone

Ligustro, Joy of Living — The Japanese Prints of a Ligurian Artist

The Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art in Genoa presents an exhibition dedicated to Giovanni Berio (1924–2015), known as Ligustro, an Italian master of Japanese polychrome woodblock printing. The show highlights his technical mastery, colour choices and the artistic path that established him as a benchmark in nishiki-e outside Japan.

The exhibition pairs Ligustro’s works with masterpieces from the Chiossone collection: ukiyo-e prints, art books and surimono that influenced his practice. It includes works donated by the artist to the city of Genoa and loans provided by his heirs.

Why visit

• Technical insight into Japanese woodblock processes: woodblock carving, polychrome printing and handmade papers.
• Examination of Ligustro’s luxury techniques, such as karazuri (blind embossing), bokashi (gradations) and kirazuri (mica application), plus use of metallic powders.
• Dialogue between the historical Chiossone holdings and Ligustro’s modern reinterpretation, supported by curatorial texts and displays.

Practical information

• Opening ceremony: Thursday 18 December 2025, 4:00 PM — free entry.
• Exhibition dates: 19 December 2025 – 12 April 2026.
• Venue: Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art, Villetta Di Negro, Piazzale Mazzini 4n, 16122 Genoa.
• Ticket: exhibition included in the museum admission.
• Curator: Aurora Canepari, Head of the Museum.
• Contacts: [email protected] – tel. +39 010 5577950 • [email protected]

Exhibition highlights

The display brings together Ligustro’s prints, surimono and unique books, illustrating his study of Edo-period printmakers and his personal reinterpretation of Japanese techniques. The selection emphasizes both technical craftsmanship — including the use of ground shell, pearl powders and gold/silver leaf — and the artist’s subtler palette and poetic motifs.

Who should attend

The show is recommended for printmaking enthusiasts, art history students, collectors and visitors interested in traditional techniques and contemporary takes on Japanese print culture.

This exhibition also commemorates the tenth anniversary of the artist’s passing and highlights Ligustro’s cultural role in reviving near-forgotten techniques on the Ligurian coast and in fostering artistic exchange between Italy and Japan.