Modern-Day Leonardos

As part of its exhibition opening Friday, Leonardo da Vinci: Man, Inventor, Genius, the Museum of Science and Industry features fifteen of the exhibit's forty Modern-Day Leonardos online. The website explains,

[Da Vinci's] willingness to go against accepted beliefs in his fearless quest for knowledge; his pursuit of truth without bias; and his belief that in even the smallest parts of nature we find the blueprints for amazing technologies echo in the work of today's leading scientists and engineers.

Of these fifteen "Leos", two are related to architecture.


Santiago Calatrava
"Combining art, science, technology, and architecture, his designs twist, lean provocatively or look like they could take flight at any moment."


William McDonough
"WM + P'?s innovative and ecologically sound design solutions have proven to be good for the bottom line, as well as for people and the environment."

When I think of da Vinci, I think of his broad range of applied knowledge. So to me, a Modern-Day Leonardo is an oxymoron, because specialization doesn't allow the freedom to seriously pursue even slightly unrelated undertakings. Calatrava's blending of art, architecture, and engineering is understandable, though nowhere near the "multi-tasking" of Leonardo: art, architecture, mechanics, medicine, music, nature. As well, contemporary society lacks the focus of the Renaissance which enabled Leonardo to attempt and achieve so much.

Regardless, I admit that there are many people out there who don't know the bounds of specialized careers, blurring the lines that usually separate one discipline from another. James Turrell comes to mind, trained in science though embraced by art circles. Any other Modern-Day Leonardos out there?