One of the most driven thought-leaders in all of history was Leonardo Da Vinci. A true Renaissance Man if there ever was one, and the enduring quality of his surviving art was rivaled only by his contemporary, Michelangelo. But Da Vinci’s interests were far more vast than the younger Michelangelo’s. It seemed nothing bored him, and he held a fascination with such diverse disciplines as anatomy, zoology, architecture, botany, viticulture, civil engineering, music, robotics, costume design, mechanics, mathematics, star gazing, aerodynamics, fossil studies, optics, hydrography, and philosophy. Oh, and did I mention stage design?
The man’s curiosity was endless. His surviving notes to himself betray a man obsessed with understanding how the world around him works, even down to the most mundane and minute details. For instance, he was obsessed with understanding how clouds are formed, what is the cause of mists to appear, why the sky appears more or less blue at different times, what causes one to sneeze, or yawn, or sweat, or thirst. He even wondered about such minutiae as the nature and structure of the woodpecker’s tongue.
So unquenchable was his curiosity, that whenever he tested the nib of a fountain pen, he would habitually doodle the words “Dimmi” (translation: “Show me.”) Truly, he had to be shown. He had to know. . . .
What innovative firm today would not want to have a man with Da Vinci’s insatiable zest for understanding? How much would Apple, or Facebook, or Google, pay to have him on their payroll?
A wonderful exhibit of Da Vinci’s work is on display at the Kodak Theater at least for the rest of this month. I would not risk waiting. It may be closing down on May 31st.
Valley Scene Magazine says that “not since the King Tut exhibit in the 1970s have we been lucky enough to witness a traveling show of such history and downright brilliance as the Da Vinci Exhibit is now offering right in the heart of Hollywood.” The curator is Mr. Godfrey Harris, a prolific author and public policy consultant.
A preview of the exhibit can be seen at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZKTo_cCczI
The exhibit is open 10 to 6 every day on the Second Level of the Hollywood & Highland Center across from the Kodak Theatre. Highly recommended.
Here is the website for more information: http://leonardodavincimuseumexhibit.com/