Getting to know Leonardo da Vinci through his own words

Massimiliano Finazzer Flory and Lito Casaje

To commemorate the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's death, several events under the banner Leonardo in Manila, were held  in various parts of Metro Manila highlighting the genius of the Renaissance man. Headlining these events (that included a cook off, dinner lectures, film screenings, and a masterclass/workshop) was the play Being Leonardo da Vinci, An Impossible Interview that was staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

For these events, presented by the Philippine-Italian Association, Embassy of Italy, Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, writer/actor/director Massimiliano Finazzer Flory flew to Manila to present the films, conduct the masterclass/workshop, and to star in the play as the Renaissance Man himself. Co-star Lito Casaje acted as the Journalist who seemingly went through a time portal of sorts for him to encounter Leonardo da Vinci in person for a once in a lifetime interview.

Finazzer Flory, brought Leonardo da Vinci to life through makeup and costume, answered a myriad of questions from the Journalist with da Vinci's own words taken from his various notebooks. The questions went through a range of topics, from art, science, nature, music, religion, etc. that it was difficult to keep track of how them without the luxury of recording the interview or at least taking down notes.

All of da Vinci's dialogue was taken directly from his writings which was from the Renaissance era making it hard even for a native, contemporary Italian speaker to comprehend immediately. Some of his responses were so profound that one has to spend a little more time with it and ponder on its meaning. But the Journalist went on with the next question, not giving the audience to let da Vinci's words sink in especially upon realizing that while they were written more than 500 years ago, they still very much resonate in present times.

The play began with the journalist posing a question about the Mona Lisa. After more than an hour of going through various topics, the interview went full circle going back to Mona Lisa. When the anticipation is at its highest, when the audience felt like a bomb is going to be dropped and the mystery surrounding the Mona Lisa would finally be unearthed, the play ends with the question, still unanswered. I guess that makes this portrait, considered to be among the most precious in the world, remains insanely popular up to this day.

RAd's Page Turners | Leonardo's Notebooks

Prior to the events commemorating Leonardo da Vinci's 500th death anniversary, I wasn't even aware that he wrote extensively. So the play served as a launching point to know more about da Vinci's writings and Leonardo's Notebooks: Writing and Art of the Great Master looks like a good next step.

The book collects his writings from his voluminous notebooks, along with some of his art, detailing his artistic and intellectual pursuits. A wide range of da Vinci's interests are covered in here ranging from human figures, light and shade, perspective and visual perception, anatomy, botany and landscape, geography, the physical sciences and astronomy, architecture, sculpture, and inventions.

Also included is commentary and insight by art historian H. Anna Suh who also served as editor of this publication.