Leonardo Da Vinci would have probably invented another innovative machine to show his appreciation for California Science Center’s presentation on his life and great achievements. The California Science Center, located near the University of Southern California, opened the interactive exhibit “LEONARDO DA VINCI: Inventor. Artist. Dreamer.” to the public March 2, 2024 and when I heard about it, the art fanatic in me knew I had to go see what they had to offer. What I found was inspiration and a plethora of information not included in my high school’s AP Art History course.
Stepping into the exhibit, you are met with a projection of Leonardo Da Vinci’s life, a flash overview of the innovator’s mind being brought to life in the other room. Transitioning from auditory to tactile, Da Vinci’s inventions and ideas are sprawled across the room; closely resembling a creative mind’s workroom. Flying machines, innovative musical instruments, and other forms of machinery were amongst the ceilings, walls, and everywhere I turned. Along with Da Vinci’s pieces that were brought to life exactly as Da Vinci had laid out were tablets which provided information about the piece.
California Science Center mirrored Leonardo Da Vinci’s passion for interacting with the public through these interactive tablets and gave us the full Da Vinci experience. I could rebuild on the screen what was right in front of me and make sense of Leonardo Da Vinci’s designs. With modern technology and engineering, Da Vinci fanatics can hear, see, and dictate how his Musical Can(n)on or Great Organ operates. Along with every invention is its innovation, design, and working capabilities at the time to give the audience a full grasp of how extraordinary Da Vinci was for his time.
In the next room, you can view the famous Last Super blown up on the wall refurbished along with the original display coupled with an explanation of the mathematics behind it. It truly is an inventor’s laboratory. On the wall is a digital timeline of some of his greatest works you can interact with to explore further analyses. Da Vinci interacted with the public through art and engineering, for every person imaginable. There were machines designed to help with coal mining and other laborious occupations for the working class at the time. Other inventions included Da Vinci’s Ideal City having automatic and clean water, the Mechanical Lion a present to the King of France, and the Self-Propelling Cart, a theatrical device. The California Science Center embodies this through its educational techniques such as the interactive tablets to reach all audiences just as Leonardo Da Vinci strived to.
The California Science Center brought out the science and art behind his innovations in art and machinery. The pieces explore how he used nature, particularly birds and insects to create his innovations. In the final room are numerous boats, mostly engineered for military purposes, that can be akin to insects such as Da Vinci’s Scorpion Ship equipped with a large scythe to hit boats below the water’s surface. In this final room, you can get into a small wooden boat and virtually steer around Venice. You can also make your own flying or water machine and print out your invention! The California Science Center’s “LEONARDO DA VINCI: Inventor. Artist. Dreamer.” exhibition is a great way to find a push toward greatness and simply have fun. If you want to find an escape before finals week visit before Jan. 5 and find your inspiration.
