Key facts
- The "Leonardo da Vinci: Genius of the Renaissance" exhibition has opened in Astana.
- It features over 40 life-size mechanical models based on da Vinci's original drawings.
- The models were recreated using surviving manuscripts known as the Vinci Codices.
- The exhibition is divided into thematic zones: air, water, earth, and fire.
- Modern technology, including LED tunnels and digital projections, enhances the visitor experience.
An exhibition dedicated to the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci, titled "Leonardo da Vinci: Genius of the Renaissance," has opened in Astana, Kazakhstan. The exhibition showcases more than 40 life-size mechanical models reconstructed from the Renaissance master's original drawings and notes, brought from museums in Rome and Florence.
These exhibits were recreated using surviving manuscripts, known as the Vinci Codices. According to Narima Mukhambetalina, director of the exhibition, specialists reconstructed the devices based on da Vinci's preserved writings, which originally comprised over 20,000 pages, with around 7,000 surviving today.
Spread across nearly 3,000 square metres in the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, the exhibition is organised into thematic zones focusing on air, water, earth, and fire. These sections demonstrate da Vinci's fascination with nature and his engineering solutions, including early flying machines like the aerial screw (a precursor to the helicopter) and his parachute design, as well as military devices such as a turtle-shaped armoured vehicle.
Other displays highlight da Vinci's interest in automation and mechanics, featuring a self-propelled cart and mechanisms like ball bearings and gears. Tour guide Dilnaz Zholdaskhanova noted that visitors are often surprised by the military machines in the fire zone and the air zone exhibits.
Complementing the historical models, the exhibition incorporates modern technology such as LED tunnels, digital projections, and holographic installations to help visitors visualise da Vinci's concepts. Digitised versions of his famous artworks, including the Mona Lisa, are also part of the experience. Organisers state that the interactive format has attracted strong interest from younger visitors.
The exhibition is scheduled to run until September 30, 2026.