Da Vinci Mechanics - Explore the mind of the greatest genius of all time
27 February - 29 May 2016
Admission fees apply
On loan from the museum of Leonardo da Vinci in Florence, Italy, this amazing exhibition brings together creations and concepts devised more than 500 years ago by the brilliant scientist, inventor and artist Leonardo da Vinci. Da Vinci Mechanics is a display of precise and interactive replicas of machines and robotics designed and described by Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th century and hand-built in Italy.
With more than 80 machines and artworks on display, many of which are interactive, the collection brings to life the most important and impressive designs of the original Renaissance Man, including the bicycle, hang glider, helicopter, a mechanical lion and the incredible robot drummer.
Visitors to the exhibition will be invited to touch and handle the models to gain a first-hand appreciation of how they work. Interactive displays and items will be accompanied by explanatory notes and illustrative panels featuring da Vinci’s drawings.
The exhibition also features children's activities, computer animations, a cinema and reproductions of Leonardo's greatest paintings.
Da Vinci Mechanics is a touring exhibition developed by Artisans of Florence. The touring agency also produced two other exhibitions staged at Waikato Museum: Roman Machines in 2014 and Da Vinci Machines in 2009. Both international exhibitions attracted record visitor numbers at all New Zealand venues.
Admission
Adult - $12
Child (4 to 14 years) - $8
Child 0-3 years - Free
Concession* - $10
Small Family (one adult and two children) - $20
Large Family (two adults and up to four children) - $40
Combo deal
Pay half price for Exscite and Planet Warriors when you purchase a Da Vinci Mechanics ticket.
Adult - $14.50
Child (4 to 14 years) - $12
Concession* - $12
Small Family (one adult and two children) - $29
Large Family (two adults and up to four children) - $57.50
*Concession applies to students, Friends of Waikato Museum and senior citizens. ID required.
Free download - Make a da Vinci-inspired glider
- Download plans and make a miniature version of the Da Vinci Glider.
School bookings
School groups (pre-booked): $6
Teachers! Get information on our Da Vinci Mechanics education programmes.
Da Vinci theme nights at the Museum
Imagine your event themed to this exciting exhibition. Start with drinks and networking in the stunning architectural space of the museum foyer and then take in a guided tour of the Da Vinci Mechanics exhibition. The stage is set for a highly successful and memorable occasion.
The hire fee for this great night out for your clients is $300 for three hours (minimum hire time) plus $60 per additional hour. An admission fee per person to Da Vinci Mechanics of $10.80 applies. That’s 10 per cent off the public admission price. (All prices include GST.)
Whether it is an exclusive invite-only soiree, or a product launch with beer and nibbles, Waikato Museum venue hire staff will work with you to create a long-lasting impression. Conveniently located in the heart of Hamilton's cultural precinct and adjacent to the CBD, Waikato Museum provides distinctive opportunities for a variety of occasions at competitive rates. Find out more here.
About Leonardo da Vinci
“THE GENIUS OF MAN MAY MAKE VARIOUS INVENTIONS, ENCOMPASSING WITH VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS ONE AND THE SAME END; BUT IT WILL NEVER DISCOVER A MORE BEAUTIFUL, A MORE ECONOMICAL, OR A MORE DIRECT ONE THAN NATURE’S, SINCE IN HER INVENTIONS NOTHING IS WANTING AND NOTHING IS SUPERFLUOUS.”
Leonardo da Vinci WINDSOR COLLECTION, WINDSOR CASTLE ROYAL LIBRARY, LONDON. W.19116R.
Leonardo da Vinci was a genius, a designer and an innovator hundreds of years ahead of his time, but he considered nature the most perfect artist, and was inspired more by what he observed, than by classical writings or instruction.
Carefully observing the landscape, Leonardo saw the way land changed colour in the far distance due to atmospheric effects, and famously reproduced the effect in his paintings, what we now know as ‘aerial perspective’.
Leonardo’s studies of the human body were the most extensive to date, and he dissected bodies, in defiance of the Church, to study and draw the structure of organs, bones and muscles. He studied the workings of nature’s devices, and sought to recreate these as practical machines: machines for moving water, for war, for excavating, drilling, and perhaps most famously, for flight.
