Leonardo Exhibit: Please do Touch and Try

There’s nothing new about the fact that “Mona Lisa” embodies just a fraction of Leonardo Da Vinci’s legacy. However, it’s truly stunning to face, and hard to grasp, the actual magnitude and significance of his life achievements when it’s presented all at once. That’s the kind of impression you should prepare for before visiting the exhibition dedicated to the Italian master.  

“Audiences in 23 countries have already witnessed this uniquely comprehensive exhibition, which is now open to the Hungarian public as well,” says marketing manager Kitti Zsiros-Varga.

“The main concept is to provide a full overview of Da Vinci’s genius, who was artist, inventor, mathematician, anatomy expert, poet and musician all in one.”

His artistic talents are represented by replicas of 23 of his art works, including highlights like “The Last Supper”, “The Lady with an Ermine” and, of course, “Mona Lisa”. So why not spare yourself the effort of crisscrossing the continent to get a glimpse at the originals?

“The key buzzword is interactivity, and it applies even to the paintings,” adds Zsiros-Varga. “Visitors are free make videos or take selfies of any object in the showroom.”

This freedom is taken to new heights when it comes to actually testing some of the inventions on display. There are nearly 60 of them in total, with around half of them ready for trying. Too bad the catapult is among the restricted items.

Hand Crafted

“These custom-built wooden models of Leonardo’s original designs were made by Italian engineers from materials available at that time of their design, and they cover areas such as hydraulics, flight, mechanics and war,” explains Zsiros-Varga. Where items cannot be tried out, cutting-edge digital simulation helps your imagination out in demonstrating their functionality.

Some of the inventions may not commonly be associated with Leonardo’s genius. Yet, he was the one who first drew sketches of a parachute, not to mention a predecessor of a helicopter, the air screw.

Virtual reality tech is also part of the deal here. By putting on a headset, visitors can “enter” the “Mona Lisa” and “Last Supper” paintings, which makes you feel like you are next to the figures depicted. Don’t get distracted too much, though, as great anecdotes and fun facts will be shared about these legendary pieces of arts thanks to an audio guide during the experience.

Although all age groups will find the exhibition appealing, kids should look forward to a visit in particular since the organizers mean to treat them like VIPs. Playful quizzes help children pick up valuable knowledge along the way and groups of pupils are granted a free guided tour.

There is even an opportunity to attend an overnight “pajama party” at the museum with lots of great assignments lined up, or to sign up for a Leonardo-themed summer camp.
Would-be visitors have until early September to pop by and join the 100,000-strong crowd that has already enjoyed the Leonardo experience across Europe.

“Leonardo da Vinci: Artist – Inventor – Genius” is at Kiraly utca 8-10, Budapest H-1061 (Central Passage, ground floor), and is accessible from Kiraly utca and Paulay Ede utca.