Artisans of Florence

Leonardo da Vinci, The skull sectioned (1489). Pen and ink over traces of black chalk. Codex Windsor, Royal Collection Trust, London.

While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die.
– Leonardo da Vinci

If the brilliant Renaissance artist, scientist, inventor, engineer, and genius Leonardo da Vinci were alive today would he do a TED Talk?

We don’t think so.

That’s why Steph Rizzo from the Artisans of Florence International embraced the challenge of presenting a DED Talk on what Leonardo’s studies of death teach us about life.

Thanks to Leonardo’s insatiable curiosity, boundless imagination, keen observation of nature and ability to depict its nuanced beauty, he is regarded as one of the world’s greatest thinkers, artists and scientists.

Leonardo’s fascination with death and dying has influenced our modern ideas about life in a myriad of ways. By connecting his studies in anatomy, nature, engineering, geology and the arts Leonardo came to a deep and unique understanding of the universe and our place in it.

Steph will present some of Leonardo’s lesser-known discoveries that raise questions that are central to both science and the arts. The session is interactive and audience members are invited to be part of the conversation.

Steph Rizzo presents Learning from Leonardo da Vinci: What does death teach us about life?

Saturday 5 August, 3pm
Edge Galleries, 35 Main St, Maldon

Free. Register your place as seating is limited.
https://www.goldfieldsgothic.com/dedtalks

The DED Talks (ideas worth undeading) will be introduced by Kimba and Stass from Last Hurrah Funerals.

The Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas runs from Friday 4 – Sunday 6 August in Maldon (Vic)

Check out the jam-packed program: https://www.goldfieldsgothic.com/program

Raphael’s masterpiece, The School of Athens (1509 – 1511) is a who’s who of influential philosophers, mathematicians and scientists spanning 2000 years of Western civilisation.

With Plato and Aristotle as the central figures, the iconic fresco has come to symbolise the connections between art, philosophy and science. Framed by the impressive arch and dwarfed at the feet of the marble statues are Pythagoras, Euclid, Ptolemy, along with a “cameo” self-portrait of Raphael himself.

Creativity and innovation require what in modern times have been separated and labelled as science and art.

Critical thinking and problem-solving are as much prerequisites in the field of arts practice as they are to scientific inquiry.

The iterative nature of the scientific method relies on the imagination. Breakthroughs in science seem to happen out of the blue, but they never are. They are the result of deep thinking, acute observation, meticulous measurement, and rigorous experimentation.

This realisation now seems revolutionary but 500 years ago Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo knew it. Galileo too couldn’t have made his breakthrough scientific discoveries without it. Over 2000 years ago Archimedes taught us the importance of inventing experiments to test hypotheses.

Tag Archives: #art

Learning from Leonardo: What does death teach us about life?

Critical Thinking, Science and Art