It’s amazing to think what you can accomplish in one lifetime. It’s even more amazing to think of what you can accomplish if stick true to your vision and persevere against all odds. Not an easy feat, especially considering most of us experience difficulty just paying bills. So imagine how much of a challenge it must have been for an innovative thinker like Leonardo Da Vinci, who lived 550 years ago in Renaissance Florence, an era which celebrated new thinking but shied away from homosexuality – although apparently Da Vinci did not.

In his lifetime Da Vinci devised an array of inventions, many of which assist in the daily function of today’s society. Some of these machines are currently on display on Perth’s foreshore as part of The Leonardo Da Vinci Machines Exhibition. And as exhibition manager Tom Rizzo pointed out to OUTinPerth, there are a whole lotta reasons why you should witness the genius that was Da Vinci.

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What exactly are you exhibiting?

Over 60 machines built in Florence, Italy, by the artisans of the Niccolai Family. They’re a family of artisans who have been doing it for 60 years now…they’re a third generation of artisans. They have provided these machines, and some of these machines are as authentic as you can get. Most of Da Vinci’s designs and machines were never built and the few that were never survived because obviously they’d be 550 years old. So what we do is we use the materials and the techniques of the time and we work under the auspices of Professor Carlos Pedretti, who is the world’s leading Da Vincian historian.

What’s one of the most unusual or unique machines you have in the exhibition?

The spring powered or clockwork car. It was actually designed as a stage prop. Leonardo spent a lot of time producing gala performances for his patrons, but not only would he design the set he’d design the props, he’d design the costumes and he’d write the music and sometimes invent instruments. He’d also invent rotating and revolving stages for performances. So with the spring powered car you’d wind up the cogs and it’d be capable of limited forward movement across the stage.

As a man who created and contributed so much, what do you believe was his driving force or inspiration?

Undoubtedly it was his love of nature. He always said ‘Mother Nature was always the greatest inventor of all’. He was self-taught so everything he learnt was through observing nature. Whatever he tackled he used nature and natural design to extrapolate and create machines, and he often marvelled at the human body as the greatest machine of all.

What do you believe Da Vinci communicates to a modern audience and a modern generation?

It communicates the power of not giving up, the power of excelling by trying and succeeding and failing. While he failed quite often, he wouldn’t give up on things. He died at the age of 67, which is quite young by our standards, but the amount he achieved in that time through sheer perseverance is quite incredible.

What are some of the more little known facts about Da Vinci?

He was a prankster. There’s a story that he played a trick on The Pope. He glued some wings on to a lizard, painted it gold and told The Pope he’d found a dragon. As a child he was also renowned for his stink bombs.

Is it true Da Vinci was gay?

That’s a little sketchy. What I can tell you is that homosexuality, while illegal, was quite common in Renaissance Florence and Da Vinci was eventually accused of sodomy. Fortunately he had some friends in high places who got him off. It’s a difficult area to get information about though!

The Leonardo Da Vinci Machines is one the Perth Foreshore near the Swan Bells. It has extended its run until October 12.

For more information visit www.davincimuseum.com.au.