Last week, South Florida PBS unveiled the "Da Vinci: An Immersive Art Experience" at their Boynton Beach studios, offering visitors a unique journey into the genius of Leonardo da Vinci. This award-winning interactive exhibition from Berlin showcases over 50 of da Vinci's most cherished creations, including The Litta Madonna, Virgin of the Rocks, and The Baptism of Christ.
Beyond the main exhibition, guests are welcomed into Da Vinci’s workshop—his bottega—where they take on the role of apprentices and engage in a hands-on exploration of creativity, innovation, and discovery.
Jill Nadler Ross and I co-wrote this interactive post-show experience and had the privilege of crafting an engaging journey that allows visitors to immerse themselves in Da Vinci’s creative process.
It begins with a scripted welcome message from the AI-generated personas of Leonardo da Vinci and the Mona Lisa, inviting guests to explore one of the three interactive stations that bring Da Vinci’s diverse talents to life:
Art Station: Guests are encouraged to try their hand at drawing using some of Da Vinci’s groundbreaking artistic techniques, such as perspective, chiaroscuro, and sfumato. These methods, which revolutionized Renaissance art, offer insight into the meticulous craftsmanship behind masterpieces like The Last Supper and Mona Lisa.
Engineering Station: Here, visitors tap into their inventive spirit by responding to an AI-powered prompt that generates a sketch of their imagined invention in the style of Da Vinci. Inspired by his studies of flight, mechanics, and anatomy, this activity highlights his ability to blend observation with boundless creativity.
Music Station: Renaissance music comes to life as guests explore period instruments through augmented reality. They can also collaborate to "compose" their own piece of music on digital keyboards, discovering how music theory and mathematical harmony played a crucial role in the cultural landscape of the time.
Throughout the experience, guests also gain a deeper understanding of the Renaissance itself: the role of patrons in supporting the arts and sciences, the interplay between disciplines, and the intellectual curiosity that fueled groundbreaking achievements. By engaging with these hands-on activities, visitors don’t just learn about Da Vinci; they step into his shoes, thinking, experimenting, and creating as he once did.
This post-show interactive experience transforms passive observation into active participation, allowing guests to connect with Da Vinci’s genius in a deeply personal way. As they leave, Jill and I hope they will take with them the message that we imagine Da Vinci might have said:
"May curiosity be our compass, and wonder our guide as we embark on this journey together, where the impossible whispers its secrets and dreams take flight!"
