Experience, Experiment, Design
Leonard da Vinci exhibition Victoria and Albert Museum
For a dose of enthusiasm about life and living, the recent Leonardo da Vinci exhibition, ‘Experience, experiment, design’, at the gloriously refurbished V&A, was ideal.
In just one small darkened room, the philosophy and inspiration of the genius were beautifully represented. It felt like a privilege to have been there, met him. The themes were fascinating. Through ‘the mind's eye’ we understand how Leonardo believed that sight was the oldest and most certain sense. It provided access to ‘experience’, which shows us how nature works according to mathematical rules. Through ‘the lesser and greater worlds’ comes the ancient theory of microcosm and macrocosm, which stated that the human body contained all the operations of the world and universe as a whole.
Perhaps these concepts help to explain why so many doctors find relaxation and pleasure in life drawing and art classes? Perhaps they are seeking to expand their appreciation of the human bodies that they observe and examine as professionals? The skill and beauty of Leonardo's drawings are extraordinary. To put the scientific insight of the man in the historical context is breathtaking. The world he was living in was hugely different from ours. But the bodies he was drawing and appreciating are not. They still are new, then young, then they age. Continuing to appreciate them, professionally and personally, as they age, may be challenging. Which is what occurred to me recently as I reached for the chondroitin and glucosamine as part of another birthday breakfast …
A friend of a similar vintage and I agreed recently that being older confers the benefit of some experience and that shared past experience is the glue of special friendships. Another friend, now in his eighth decade, stopped being an architect (a profession in which he excelled) when he was about 70 and went to art school. He was older than most people in his class by about 45 years and he loved it. He particularly loved life drawing and his latest exhibition was entitled, ‘Drawing life’. It was held in an art gallery in Hoxton, an area of Hackney which has also been renewed and regenerated and had new life breathed into it.
Life drawing? Drawing life? Perhaps, as GP's tend to do, drawing from life?
- © British Journal of General Practice, 2007.
