A few weeks ago, Groupon.com offered 2-for-1 admission to Da Vinci: The Genius at the MTS Exhibition Hall. For less than $10 each, a friend and I hopped on the deal wagon, stoked on seeing the latest and greatest exhibit in the city for such a good price. After being impressed by Bodies and hearing solid reviews of Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, I’ll admit my expectations were high. High hopes are hard to meet, so perhaps it was my own fault that I was underwhelmed with this latest offering.
The major downer was that all of the pieces were replicas or reproductions. While I was not expecting to see the “Mona Lisa” in Winnipeg, seeing “The Last Supper” printed on a wrapped canvas was pretty dissatisfying. Some paintings, such as “Lady with an Ermine,” were skillfully replicated, but I found them to be less interesting than if they would have been the real deal.
Many of Da Vinci’s designs remained as ideas in codices, never actualized until this exhibit. Models of his military machines, flying devices and musical instruments are among the inventions built for display. Some of the designs are used in modern technology, such as pulley systems, while others, like some of the flying machines, can seem quite ridiculous. A small interactive section showcases his ideas on civil and hydraulic machines. To see such ideas come to life, however ingenious or impractical, is certainly a highlight.
The exhibit comes to an end by sharing the secrets of the “Mona Lisa.” Photos of the painting taken with an incredible 240-megapixel multi-spectral imaging camera expose what the “Mona Lisa” looked like when she was originally painted. Infrared and negative imaging along with extreme zoom unearth answers to questions like, “Where are her eyebrows?”
If that answer is worth $15.95 to you, then I encourage you to visit. I, personally, am glad that I got a deal. For anything more I think I would have felt unfulfilled. Maybe splurging for the audio tour would have enhanced the experience, but I can’t say it’s necessary.
The most impressive facet of the Da Vinci exhibit was not a model, replica or canalization, but rather the overall portrayal of Da Vinci’s mind. So many interests ranging across a wide spectrum, each thoroughly examined and considered, spewing with innovation. Then again, it was the late 1400s, what else did he have to do? I considered deleting my Facebook account after being reminded humans have potential to do great things. I quickly decided to keep my friends and let Da Vinci keep “genius” as his status.
