The Sheffield Millennium gallery is one of 12 galleries chosen to house 12 of Leonardo’s famous drawings. These drawings are a main part of what is left of Leonardo’s heritage, representing to viewers the talent of Leonardo and displaying his greatest achievements as not only an artist but many other things. The Sheffield Millennium gallery takes advantage of this exhibit to create interactive activities in order to educate visitors more about Da Vinci’s drawings and the deep importance of these on reflecting his life. Interactive activities include talks on Da Vinci as well as a chance to create anatomical drawings somewhat like Da Vinci’s.
I like that the gallery has paired this exhibition with a contemporary art piece that has been greatly inspired by Da Vinci’s drawings, specifically his drawings on the movement and flow of water. This piece is called ‘the Vehicle of Nature’ by Universal Everything, I enjoy how the piece uses geometric shapes to break up the gallery space and create an obstruction for the ‘water’ that flows around it. The design collective ‘universal everything’ have put a new twist on Da Vinci’s water drawings by projecting not only the flow and movement of water but also the flow of blood cells and the flurry and movement of people. They have taken inspiration from Sheffield and the peak district, natural forms of rivers and boulders remade through the geometric shapes and projections. The installation is entrancing with its beautifully made projection that flows from one side of the room to the other. The creators have paired the projection and shapes with a sound piece that adds to the atmosphere of the room and re-establishes the concept of the everyday movement of nature.
Some would say the most important work on display in Sheffield is the Head of St Philip, a study for what not only considered Da Vinci’s most famous work but is one of the most famous paintings in the world, the Last Supper. Although personally, I find some of the other pieces more interesting, for example his anatomical studies that show the muscles and veins of the inner workings of the body, Da Vinci uses intricate detail in these works which are beautifully done.
In comparison with the Liverpool exhibition I prefer how the Millennium gallery has displayed the works. The installation alongside the exhibition is engaging in the way it shows the use of modern technologies whilst also reflecting similar concepts to Da Vinci’s drawings. I also like how the Sheffield gallery has included a space for visitors to sit down and draw, retracting back to the beauty that is taking a pencil to paper and creating a piece of art.
Blog on Contemporary Art 