On January 17th, as a part of Santaluces’ National Art Honor Society, I went on a field trip to the Da Vinci Experience at South Florida PBS Studios in Boynton Beach. Needless to say, I had an amazing time!
One of the most interesting parts of the experience as we entered was the immersive box that not only projected images on the wall of the room we were in, but also told the thought-provoking story of Leonardo Da Vinci. Through his paintings, they described what they meant and how they were supposed to be viewed and understood. The parts that stood out the most to me were when the walls lit up with the Mona Lisa and at the same time, described Da Vinci’s art philosophy. Another great part of the immersive room was the fact that the walls were interactive, and when I put my hand on them, they would light up like the rest of the place.
In the box-like room that we were first in, it also showed us diagrams of Leonardo’s paintings, with the story behind them as well. Who would’ve known that Leonardo da Vinci was a procrastinator and that the Mona Lisa took him years to make? I didn’t either. It was very cool to learn little facts like that and explore the life and work of one of the greatest artists to ever live.
We didn’t just learn about Da Vinci’s paintings, however. We also got to learn about his brilliant inventions. I saw his flying machine and his other diagrams of things that were not yet developed. Seeing that definitely made me realize that he was way ahead of his time. I loved how the sketches looked as well. When the projector started to make the designs actually move, it felt like they were being brought to life. It was definitely a sight to see.
Another part of the experience that I enjoyed was the workshop. I got to observe more of Da Vinci’s commissions and paintings and the story behind them, with more commentary from the staff. One story that interested me was a commission that Da Vinci did for the church, which was known as the Madonna of the Rocks and made in the early 1480s. Unfortunately, the church that it was done for did not end up liking it, as it was unfinished and the church disapproved of the angel holding Christ’s back with its hand, as the gesture was considered impolite. Da Vinci later remade it, without the errors in the previous artwork.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Da Vinci Experience, and I would one hundred percent recommend it to someone. A quote that stuck with me and what was also one of the most memorable parts of the experience was, “As our fleeting time on this planet slips by, our traces may forever imprint its sky. Let’s inspire and aspire to be thoughtful, to discover, and to innovate. The unparalleled mind of Leonardo da Vinci is an inspiration to tap into our boundless creative potential. The future is ours to create!”