Getting to know a genius: Da Vinci – the Genius exhibit

Photo courtesy of The Mind Museum

What does it take to be the world's greatest genius?

For Leonardo Da Vinci, it is being a painter, sculptor, military architect, aquatic engineer, anatomist, musician, mathematician, inventor, and writer ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

Plenty as it may seem, but that's what makes Da Vinci the quintessential “Renaissance Man" whose scientific ingenuity and creativity continues to live on even it’s about five centuries after his death.

And for the first time in the Philippines, Grande Exhibitions Australia brings “Da Vinci – The Genius,” the only exhibit touring the world featuring the largest and most comprehensive exhibit on the life and works of Da Vinci at the Mind Museum in Taguig. Over 200 pieces of Da Vinci’s works, including those that were made based on what is found in 6,000 pages of his surviving manuscripts, are available for public viewing (while some of these artefacts can be even touched as well).

And last Sept. 21 (two weeks since the exhibit first opened), I finally got the chance to meet the genius! Here’s a peek of my 3-hour adventure with Da Vinci. :) (note: photos below are taken from my phone camera)

The exhibition is categorized into several themed areas. Since Da Vinci’s works are far too valuable to be toured around the world, the exhibit showcases full-scale replicas of his inventions that are carefully crafted by Italian artisans using materials that would have been available in Da Vinci’s time.

Upon walking inside, you will be welcomed with Da Vinci’s immense fascination with Flight and Physics.

Flight section

Even before the Wright brothers invented the first aeroplane, Da Vinci already had his conception of human flight. Though these ideas remained as sketches in his notebooks, they became the foundation in many of today’s discoveries in aero science – thus, making him the “Father of Flight.”

The Aerial Slope is Da Vinci’s conception or a rising screw,
which is said to be the predecessor of modern helicopter.

Da Vinci's version of parachute

The Wing Study

The Physics is an interactive area where you can actually touch the replicas of early machines which were taken from Da Vinci’s sketches.

The Ball Bearings

The Chain Crankcase

The Jack

Hammer Driven by Eccentric Cam

The Hydraulics and Aquatic Machines section reveals Da Vinci’s excellence in studying the behaviour of water. As seen in his sketches, Da Vinci thought of ways to improve machines intended for lifting water without using excessive human effort. He also came up with early versions of submarine, scuba diving equipment, and breathing apparatus, among others. 

(Clockwise): Early version of Scuba Diving Suit; Hand-Flippers; and Floats for Walking in Water

The submarine

Paddle Boat

Double Hulled Ship

Not only Da Vinci is an inventor, but he is also interested in music. You can see it among his creations in the Music and Optics section. For a bonus, get ready to take your selfie in the 8-sided Mirrors Room, with 8 flat mirrors as its walls!

(Clockwise): Mirrors Room; The Portable Piano; and Double Flute

To know Da Vinci and his life in depth, head to the mini theatre wherein a 50-minute BBC documentary about “The Man Who Wanted to Know Everything” is being screened.

The Mini Theater

Da Vinci also excels in Military Engineering, where he created models for various weapons such as multi-barrelled gun machine, cannon, lethal chariot, etc. One interesting highlight in this section is his own version of military tank.

Three-registered Gun Machine

Assault Ladder

Covered Cart for Attacking Fortification

Da Vinci's early version of military tank

Da Vinci is well-known for his awe-inspiring artworks, including the most recognizable portrait in the world, The Mona Lisa. Here, The Renaissance Art section features high-quality replica of this painting along with his other notable works: The Annunciation, The Little Madonna, portrait of St. Jerome, and the Vitruvian Man.

Clockwise: The Annunciation; Portrait of St. Jerome; The Little Madonna

The Vitruvian Man which illustrates the theories on proportion based on the work
of Roman architect Vitruvius in first century, BC.

The Mona Lisa. The most copied portrait in the world, the original Mona Lisa 

is too fragile and valuable to be even put on display. It permanently rests

on a bullet-proof glass enclosure in Louvre, Paris.

The Codices is a collection of Da Vinci’s manuscripts. Many of his writings were lost but 6,000 pages of his original notes and drawings stood the test of time and are now compiled into a number of notebooks. The replicas of his most important manuscripts are on display in the exhibit (and I can’t help but gape with admiration).

Codices: Forster I, II, and III

Past the Codices section is The Life and Times portion of the exhibit where you get a glimpse of the struggles and triumphs of Da Vinci throughout his life.

Life and Times section

The Civil Engineering section shows how Da Vinci is way advanced in his time. They might look like simple machines of the medieval age but they are not ordinary at all as shown in his model of a propelled car, bicycle, crank operated cart, humanoid automaton (a.k.a. Robot) and his concept of the Ideal City.

Self-propelled car

Bicycle

Humanoid Automaton a.k.a. "Robot"

Da Vinci's concept of the "Ideal City"

And finally, a wall full of human body part sketches reproduced from Da Vinci’s notebooks is the highlight of the Anatomy section. History has it that Da Vinci was the first to discover atherosclerosis, or the hardening of the arteries.

The Anatomy Section

The significant contributions of Da Vinci across multiple disciplines are too overwhelming to comprehend in this exhibit. This unique and rare experience of exploring the mind of the greatest genius the world has ever known is very fulfilling.

So what are you waiting for? Feed your mind with new discoveries at “Da Vinci – The Genius” exhibit running until November 30 only!

For ticket prices and other information visit: www.themindmuseum.org

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Have you visited the exhibit already? Which part of Da Vinci's inventions

interest you the most? Feel free to share with me your thoughts!