Little Danny The Fanboy

Last week I went to Ottawa for the first time and was amazed. While taking photos of Parliament, I saw a sign for the Canada Science and Technology Museum featuring some of the art and inventions of Leonardo DaVinci. I didn't have the museum on my original list of places to go, but I didn't care. I wanted, no I needed, to go. I've been a fan and admirer of his work ever since I was a young teen. I was captivated by his artistic genius and his inquisitive nature. I've seen almost all of his artwork in Europe. I've not gone to Russia to see his work, but that is on my list. Madonna of the Rocks is my favourite; when I first stood before it in London, I was hypnotised. The beautiful faces, the rich colours, the emotion captured in the painting. It reached into me, it touched me. The same sensation washed over me when I stood in Paris looking at the other edition of the painting. They're the same, yet so different. The same love and devotion echoed through the layers of paint,

I wondered what the exhibit would show. I knew it most likely would not. When I got to the museum, that was my entire focus. I didn't really care about the other exhibits. I was visibly excited when I reached the ticket counter. The girl asked me if I wanted admission to the DaVinci exhibit in addition to the normal museum ticket. I told her that was the entire reason for me coming here today; I hadn't even thought about the museum for my day trip until I saw the sign up on Parliament Hill. She smiled and handed me my tickets, telling me to enjoy myself. My entire focus was going to see that display. The other things in the museum were in my peripheral vision. I need to go there first. I walk up to the sliding doors, my breath caught in my chest. The girl behind the counter asks me for my special ticket so that I can enter the exhibit; she starts explaining a little bit about the exhibit and I told her that I've seen many of his works across Europe, except for two countries that are home to his masterpieces, but they're on my list and she clams up. She offers to be of any help she could be, seeing as I'm a massive fan. I offer her a cheery smile and tell her I will ask if I think of anything. I wandered in, the bright lights shining down on me, my excitement bubbling in my stomach. I spot the Madonna of the Rocks paintings right away. I stand in front of them, almost hypnotised. It's been 10 years since  I saw the first one in person and 9 years since I saw the second one in person. I have the overwhelming urge to go see them both again. I tear my eyes away from the spot and take in the other renditions they have on display. I wish they'd talked more about each piece; the techniques used to create the different textures and styles within his work. I make a mental note to blog about some of my other favourite pieces, talking about the styles of his work.
I walk through the exhibit, my eyes focused on his ideas for an underwater suit. Thoughts of 20,000 leagues under the sea fill me. I stare deep into the empty eyeholes of the mask; it reminds me of the gas masks work in WW II. Flashes of soldiers in the masks dance before my eyes. I blind a few times to clear my mind, but when I open my eyes I'm consumed with the fear that there is someone hiding in the suit. I don't know where this comes from; maybe it's something primitive. Fight or flight. My thoughts drift back to Oslo, where I had the same feelings, only not as heightened this time around. The mumbles of the others in the exhibit turn into a comforting dull buzz. I peel my eyes away from the suit. It amazes me that something that appears so simple is something far more; a vision of someone hundreds of years past and a teleportation device for me. I'm captivated by the anatomy drawings; I've always been a fan of things that could be considered macabre. The level of detail he achieved is something that I've always envied; I've been drawing for decades, yet even with fine tuning my craft, it's still not to that level. I linger on the beauty and grace in the drawings, marvelling at the accuracy for the time. I want to have one of his sketches tattooed on me, but I'm unsure how that would work or where I'd even get it done; I'm getting kind of full of ink. There are so many great works to choose from as well.
I spend my time perusing some of the invention displays, taking in all the exhibit has to offer. This is the first time that I've seen his inventions come to life. The catapult is my favourite. I have evil thoughts about sending a certain twat flying through the sky and snicker, drawing the attention of two women stood behind me. I offer them a sheepish grin and slither through the rest of the inventions, filming the room and some of the parts of the exhibition. (If you'd like to see them I might put them up on my Instagram page or even on my dead YouTube Channel. I should really do more with that, but I can't be fucked.) Davinci's quotes coat the walls of the exhibition, with small explanations of his work as well.
There's a small section on The Last Supper. I wish they'd done more with this piece. It's one of my favourites and the symbolism both prominent and hidden in the piece never fails to captivate me. I can't wait to go see this one in person. I'm going to have to do a full Italian tour. Just Italy, taking in all the country has to offer me. That will have to be in 2021 I think, seeing as I've got Washington D.C. slated for next winter-spring. There will be more details on that as it unfolds. If you wanna hang out with me, I have a Boston & Salem mini-tour coming up this October. You can check out all that information in my previous blog; there will be more to come, which you can check out by following my Twitter, Facebook or Instagram pages) It's a shame the painting is crumbling; it's such fantastic work. The colours we see today are resonating despite only being a fraction of what they once were.

I make my way to the last part of the exhibit which is a focus on the Mona Lisa. Now I've talked about her before. I saw her back in Paris and I wasn't that impressed by the painting. It's plain for my taste, but this-seeing all the different layers and the two other paints underneath was interesting. It's actually made me want to go look at the painting again. The reconstruction of the face through his techniques is amazing. They had a perfect replica of the painting in the display and the painting photographed in different lights to show the different layers and details that emerge under them. It breaks down the changes the painting went through due to time and the breaking down of the paint materials, showing how it's aged over time into the work that we see today.
I'm not going to lie, I prefer the earlier woman in the painting. I think she was the second version he painted over the original; I can't be sure right now. She's gorgeous. Soft lips, pale olive toned skin with dark hair. Perfect woman in my book. You can see how the neckline of her dress changed, how he altered her bust and changed the shape of her nose and jaw. The pose remains the same, the expression similar, a mysterious smile. I doubt we will ever know who the woman is or what her smile means. Hidden in the sands of time are her identity and her mischievous reasons for her pose. I don't think I want to know if I'm honest. I'm a guy who loves mystery and it only adds to her beauty. What can I say? I like me a mysterious lady. I take photos of all the different stages of the painting shown under the different lights, afraid that I'll forget something. I could spend all day in here, but there are other museums to visit. I wrap up in the exhibit and wave to the girls as I head out, filled with new inspiration and ideas for the future. The future is very colourful.



The gift shop is flooded with Davinci themed merchandise. Way to make a quick buck. It kind of bothers me and I can't put my finger on why. I admire a few of the books but then realise, I don't want to have to lug them all home and I could easily add some of the few missing ones to my collection by ordering online. Should come as no surprise that I have a collection of books on him and his works; I've collected the books in the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and Sweden. I hope to add other editions eventually. I settle for a cool new bookmark and tuck it safely between the pages of Irvine Welsh's Filth. (It's a good read if you've not read it; the film is rather brilliant too.)

You can check out the Divici display until 2 September 2019. Tickets can be purchased at the museum or online via the museum's website. For more information on hours, other types of admission and other exhibits both permanent and upcoming check out their website below:
MUSEUM:
https://ingeniumcanada.org/cstm

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