Q&A: Leonardo Da Vinci

Andrew Shanahan scores a world exclusive – an interview with the elusive Leonardo Da Vinci

In anticipation of the Da Vinci – The Genius exhibition at MOSI, the publicity team from the exhibition shocked everyone by announcing that they were arranging a series of interviews with Leonardo Da Vinci. Clearly, this was a surprise, not just because Da Vinci died in 1519, but because he is notoriously publicity shy. Undaunted, Creative Tourist secured a five minute Q&A with the man himself to talk about his work, his passions and an incredible legacy that sees sell-out crowds fighting for tickets to get a glimpse of his inventions and his artworks.

As with many major stars, the scene for the interview was a large suite in a five star hotel. In a separate room a succession of journalists queued patiently for their turn to speak to Da Vinci. Our slot was scheduled at the end of a four day stint of promotion and well before we reached the interview room, the signs weren’t good. As we knocked on the door the hostile smell of rum leached out into the corridor, while the room we were ushered into was dimly lit and oppressively hot. Da Vinci looked good, handsome in a faintly yellowing, Gimli-from-Lord-of-the-Rings way. However, it seems four days of fielding relentless trivia questions had brought out the diva in Da Vinci.

CREATIVE TOURIST (CT): Mr Da Vinci, I’m sure you hear this a lot, but it’s really an incredible honour to speak with you.
LEONARDO DA VINCI: I do hear it a lot. And can you refer to me in all printed materials as LDav.

CT: Sorry, EL Dav or LDav? Is that L-D-A-V?
LDAV: Call off the search, we’ve found a journalist that can spell – yes, L-D-A-V. It’s a new thing. LDav.

CT: Ok, is there a reason, obviously so many people know you as –
LDAV: Look, it is what it is. Leonardo Da Vinci is just blah. It’s a long-distance event, not a name. LDav is tweetable. Now can we please get on and let you ask all the predictable questions about Mona Lisa’s smile.

CT: Right. Ok. That was one of my questions actually. What can -
LDAV: She was sat on the wrong end of the stool. I put out the same stool I got all my models to sit on and she turned it upside down and sat on the wrong side. Bingo: there’s your mysterious smirk that has intrigued generations.

CT: Is that true?
LDAV: True enough. Next question. Let me guess – helicopters.

CT: They’re on the list! It just seems like such a fantastical leap, and so symbolic of your advancement. While the rest of humanity was tied to land your thoughts took wing – or rotary blade, rather!
LDAV: It was for veg. It was a gigantic veg chopper. I burned the designs for the second version which had a grater attachment for under the runners. I put the drawings on show and someone started blabbering about the miracle of the skies. I just let them run with it. It can grate 900 carrots per minute.

CT: Bruce Peterson, the curator of the exhibition, has said that if the exhibition inspires just one individual to do something extraordinary in their life, then the 10 years to put this exhibition together will have been worthwhile. That must make you feel incredible?
LDAV: Let me tell you about Bruce Peterson. [PR INTERRUPTS – MUFFLED DISCUSSION] Bruce Peterson is a great guy. No issues with him. Next question.

CT: Leonard…LDav – you did it all – painting, inventing…
LDAV: Sodomy.

CT: Ha!
LDAV: Who’s joking?

CT: – Um, was there anything you feel you couldn’t do?
LDAV: That is officially the worst question I’ve been asked so far, and the journalist from the Finnish Times asked a forty minute question about teak. Yes, the one thing I would say I couldn’t do is bake. My favourite Beatle was John Lennon and if I were a woodland creature I’d be a badger. Happy now? Understand my work on a more personal level now, do you?

CT: Look – I understand you’re probably sick of interviews but there’s no reason to direct so much anger at me. What’s wrong? Why are you so angry?
LDAV: I’m sorry. It’s not your fault. A journalist told me earlier how much The Da Vinci Code had grossed. I didn’t make that much from the submarine.

Da Vinci – The Genius runs at MOSI until 13 June 2010 (£7.50 adults, £5 concessions, £20 family ticket). The exhibition is the most comprehensive touring exhibition ever dedicated to this remarkable artist and includes the UK premiere of the Secrets of the Mona Lisa. Read our preview of the exhibition in our top 5 Manchester exhibitions this Autumn.

Andrew Shanahan is an award-winning freelance writer with work ranging from journalism with The Guardian and The Independent and national magazine titles to scriptwriting with the BBC. He has also developed a series of innovative writing projects for the internet with Moving Audio.

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