Da Vinci Experience (Vancouver)
Though it first debuted in the 1500s, Leonardo da Vinci’s mischievous and elusive Mona Lisa has inspired countless other works in the centuries well beyond his lifetime. There’s Dan Brown’s infamous Da Vinci Code; the Julia Roberts led film, Smile Mona Lisa Smile; Panic! at the Disco’s angst-y pop punk bop titled—wait for it—The Ballad ofMona Lisa.
But how much does the general public today really know about the long-haired Italian inventor himself?
In my case, admittedly not much.
Despite Leonardo da Vinci’s status as one of Europe’s most brilliant minds, the most that I recalled about him was limited to the aforementioned painting and vague sketches about winged inventions. Not to mention that these facts stemmed more from an episode of an iconic children’s show about a talking aardvark than any formal education.
In fact, it wasn’t until our family attended the Leonardo da Vinci immersive experience at Tsawwassen Mills mall on the Tsawwassen First Nations land, that I really took time to appreciate the extent of his achievements as the It boy of the Renaissance.
Though most people know him for his paintings, Leonardo was one of those people that was gifted in multiple areas. More than a traditional artist, Leonardo was also an avid inventor, architect and all around intellectual. He was a forward-thinking man who often pushed the boundaries of what was both possible and acceptable during his time.
In short: he’s the type of guy who probably would win Jeopardy for days—and he just so happens to share a first name with the 90s pretty-faced, pre-Timothée Chalamet actor, Leonardo di Caprio.
Visitors at the Leonardo da Vinci immersive experience first learn key details about Leonardo’s life and creative processes through a comprehensive exhibit. Thankfully, it goes beyond the classic timeline and supplements boards of text with models of Leonardo’s imagined inventions, a Mona Lisa frame picture taking station, and replicas of his most significant paintings. The entire room is fraught with facts and pictures that visitors can read as they roam around at their own pace.
After a tour of his life’s work, visitors will see it through a whole new light—literally—in the next room, for the actual immersive experience. The room was dark and lit solely by large screens which covered the walls like panels; the music was grand, cinematic and blared effectively from each corner. And then the show began.
What followed was a visually interesting ripple of moving images and clips that flowed so seamlessly into it could have also been categorized as a short film of sorts. There was Leonardo’s sketches and paintings, scenes of nature, facts about his life, and effects that blended the two together. It was an effective juxtaposition of entities that were both similar yet lightyears apart; 15th century inventions and modern scenery, technology and nature, idea and artifact.
After sitting in the room for around an hour for the full show, we exited and were pleasantly surprised to find a VR set waiting for us. And though the immersive room was cool, the VR set was the real highlight for me. Sitting in individual egg-shaped chairs, we slid on our goggles and were instantly transported into various VR landscapes; a lake, a room with a mini library etc. We were also encouraged to physically swivel around our chairs because doing so allowed us to view the landscape in its 360-degree glory. The VR was extremely well-done, as it mimicked the settings so well that I felt a swooping sensation in my stomach when I peered below me from my position on top of a tower. The visuals were also consistent and smooth as I turned my chair around to explore.
In my opinion, the VR set was a great way to end the experience, and definitely something that I think Leonardo himself would have appreciated for the creative way it represented and brought his ideas and overall vibe to life. Bonus points for the jaunty music that I assume is what top 40 sounded like during the Renaissance.
For full disclosure though, this was definitely not the same as the Van Gogh experience, so don’t go into it expecting the same effects, tunes or even atmosphere. For me, Van Gogh was dreamy, wistful and tinged with emotion from the artist’s paintings and the artist himself. In comparison, the Leonardo da Vinci immersive experience was more emotionally detached, technical and educational. Not in a boring, napping-in-class kind of way—the exhibit simply focused more on the sheer brilliance and cognitive aspects of Leonardo da Vinci rather than his personal story.
Though it was different from Van Gogh, I would still recommend it, especially if you’re looking for something that will teach you things about an earlier period of history using interesting and unique methods.
Through three different sections and mediums, the Leonardo da Vinci immersive experience provided a fresh and ambitious glimpse into the mind of a genius—and to that I say, che bello!