A temporary pavilion in Tokyo's Hibiya Park seems like an unlikely venue for showcasing the hallowed works of Leonardo da Vinci, but for this particular exhibition, the big top-like structure is appropriate. "Leonardo da Vinci: The Genius" is aimed straight at the general public. Designed, produced, branded and marketed by Grande Exhibitions, the company that is also behind the traveling exhibitions "Planet Shark," "Van Gogh Alive" and "Game On," "The Genius" is about edutainment — showing the great master to the general public in an accessible and entertaining way.
Would-be art thieves, take note, though. There is not one authentic piece by Leonardo in the park. The real "Mona Lisa" is still in a bullet-proof glass case at the Louvre in Paris and his codexes are safe in the hands of various libraries, museums and Bill Gates. This show is more about presentation than authenticity, and it teaches by showing not telling. Its numerous replicas and models demonstrate the wide range of his interests but also the full spectrum of the arts and sciences.
Though possibly only 20 Leonardo paintings have survived to today, around 6,000 pages of his codexes still exist, including the Codex Forster collection of mathematic and geometry writings and the Codex Leicester of scientific observations — which is where "The Genius" begins.
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