At the Shanghai Museum, the temporary exhibition “The Shape of Air: from Leonardo da Vinci to Pagani Utopia”
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Pagani Automobili is bringing the temporary exhibition “The Shape of Air: from Leonardo da Vinci to Pagani Utopia” to the Shanghai Museum, the most prominent museum institution in the Shanghai municipality.
«Italian cars continue to captivate entire generations because they are equipped with a special engine: a
flawless fusion of science and art that has always fueled Italian creativity, exemplified by the brilliance of
Leonardo da Vinci. i. Consequently, showcasing the exquisite cars crafted by Horacio Pagani at the
Shanghai Museum, within the grand exhibition dedicated to Leonardo, signifies presenting the Chinese
audience with a palpable testament to our prowess in conceiving, crafting, and bestowing substantive
value upon human ingenuity, and consequently, upon our very existence.» (Tiziana D’Angelo, Consul
General of Italy in Shanghai).
“The Shape of Air: from Leonardo da Vinci to Pagani Utopia” takes place within the framework of the
Italian Design Day, the annual initiative launched by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation, in collaboration and with the support of the Ministry of Culture, this year
centered around the theme “Manufacturing Value: inclusiveness, innovation and sustainability”.
On the first floor, the temporary exhibition will delve into Leonardo’s pivotal role in creating the Utopia,
the Hypercar that marked the third act in the history of Pagani Automobili. A fearless pursuit of beauty
guided the research to find the delicate balance between form and function, a mission inherent to every
designer. This principle aligns with the statement of the Renaissance artist-scientist who has always
inspired the work of Horacio Pagani and his team: «Art and Science are two disciplines that can walk
hand in hand.»
The entire evolution of the car will be narrated as if it were a living creature, from the initial original
sketches to its most representative components: the lever system of the gearbox, the pedal assembly, the
four exhausts, the optical groups, the steering wheel, the central console, the wheel, the Pirelli tire, and the
front hood.
On the ground floor, visitors will be able to relive the essential moments of Pagani Automobili’s history
through the section “The Story of a Dream”, tracing the journey of Horacio Pagani from the boy who
crafted balsa wood models in Argentina to the designer and builder of some of the most beloved
automobiles of the last decades.
“Who is Leonardo da Vinci?” – Original works by Leonardo in Shanghai
Alongside the temporary exhibition, the showcase “Who is Leonardo da Vinci?” is dedicated to the great
artist, his paintings, and drawings, juxtaposing his works with some masterpieces of Chinese art from the 10th to the16th century, preserved within the collections of the Shanghai Museum.
The protagonist of the exhibition is La Scapiliata, an autographed work by Leonardo from the National
Gallery of Parma (Monumental complex of Pilotta).
The exhibition also features eleven precious original folia from Leonardo’s Codex Atlanticus and works by
his disciples, including two drawings by Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio, a drawing by Francesco Melzi, and
a painting by Bernardino Scapi (known as Luini), all from the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan.
Additionally, two drawings by Michelangelo, a contemporary of Leonardo, come from Casa Buonarroti in
Florence.
The Italian collection engages in a dialogue with some masterpieces from the Shanghai Museum, works
by illustrious Chinese painters such as Zhao Yong (c. 1289–1369), Shen Zhou (1427–1509), and Tang Yin
(1470–1523).
The section “Leonardo: the Machine of Imagination” enriches the exhibition. It is a contemporary artwork
animated by a series of installations (Observations on Nature, City and Landscape, Anatomical Table, and
Painting) conceived by Studio Azzurro, one of the most renowned European collectives in artistic research
with the languages of new technologies, and produced by the Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana-Treccani.
Set design, video art, and sounds contribute inseparably to stimulating the power of imagination in every
visitor.
«Leonardo da Vinci is defined as the ‘universal man’ because he has influenced every discipline, from art
to science. His figure represents the ideal to which each of us should aspire, not only for his eclectic skills
but especially for human qualities such as humility, curiosity, and a passion for research. In particular,
Leonardo was one of the first to advocate that art and science can walk together, hand in hand, and that
the distance between the two disciplines is only apparent. This concept is significant because it can inspire
a new way of interpreting any human activity and allows for the creation of truly universal
achievements.» (Horacio Pagani, Founder & Chief Designer of Pagani Automobili)
«Leonardo da Vinci continues to fascinate and inspire entire generations thanks to his genius.
It is with great pride that Treccani, always committed to promoting Italian culture and art worldwide, has
cooperated in this project in collaboration with the Shanghai Museum, the most prestigious museum
institution in the Municipality of Shanghai, with the support of the Italian Embassy in the People’s
Republic of China, the Consulate General, and the Italian Cultural Institute in Shanghai. The exhibition,
the result of the work of an Italo-Chinese curatorial committee involving the directors of partner
institutions and high-profile international experts, seeks to answer the fundamental question: ‘Who is
Leonardo da Vinci?’ Exploring multiple aspects of the personality and work of the encyclopedic genius,
the exhibition features significant loans generously provided by the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana in
Milan, the Monumental complex of Pilotta in Parma, and Casa Buonarroti in Florence.» (Massimo Bray,
General Director of the Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana-Treccani)
«The underlying aspiration of this exhibition on Leonardo da Vinci, which ideally engages with Chinese
painting at the Shanghai Museum, is to believe that no people have a monopoly on knowledge or
contributions to the realms of experience. The outcomes of human inquiry are mutually recognized and
honored, thereby following the spirit of unity that naturally tends to bring together rather than separate,
divide, and oppose, always and everywhere.» (Francesco D’Arelli, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute
in Shanghai)
Horacio Pagani at the exhibition’s inauguration On March 4th, Horacio Pagani will be in Shanghai to inaugurate the exhibition and share insights into the enduring influence that the undisputed genius of the Renaissance has always had on his and his team’s work.
Pagani Automobili is indeed a creative Atelier where a community of people engages in the exercise
of thought and manual skill every day, aligning with Leonardo’s philosophy, which illuminates the path to
solving the great complexities of mechanics. Pagani’s ambition is to create bespoke objects that aim to
achieve the pinnacle of synthesis between technological innovation and aesthetic pleasure.
An iconic model from the history of Pagani Automobili is on display: the Zonda Cinque
Unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2009, the Zonda Cinque was designed to be the most
extreme road-legal Zonda ever, limited to just five units.
The project drew inspiration from the technological advancements of the Zonda R, a wild and innovative
vehicle exclusively designed for the track.
The Zonda Cinque is the first road car to adopt a carbo-titanium chassis, offering numerous advantages in
terms of lightness, strength, and performance.
It inherits aerodynamic solutions from the Zonda R, such as air intakes on the hoods and roof, along with
new front spoilers, a redesigned adjustable rear wing, a flat bottom, and modified rear diffusers.
The combination of these features allows the Cinque to generate an aerodynamic load of 750 kg (1653 lbs)
at 300 km/h (186 mph).
The pronounced racing appearance is also evident in the wheels, featuring single-nut fastening and black
or anodized finishes, and in the seats with four-point harnesses, along with a chromoly steel roll bar
coated in carbon fiber. For the first time, a Zonda is equipped with a 6-speed sequential automated
gearbox.
The interiors are designed to maximize driving pleasure, with ergonomic paddles behind the steering
wheel and redesigned control instruments for the highest level of precision. The distinctive livery and
colors of the Zonda Cinque reflect Pagani’s constant commitment to creating a sophisticated blend of style,
research, and technological development.
On display, the Zonda Cinque Coupé 1 of 5, from the year 2009, featuring an exterior in New York pearl
white with red accents, showcasing the distinctive Cinque livery and fully visible carbon fiber. The
interior is designed with black leather and Alcantara.
The journey of “The Shape of Air”, from Milan to Vinci to Shanghai
The exhibition “The Shape of Air: from Leonardo da Vinci to Pagani Utopia” is the third stage of a journey
that began in Milan, continued in Leonardo’s hometown, and has now reached Asia.
«In 2022, on the occasion of the world premiere of the Pagani Utopia, the Museo Nazionale Scienza e
Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci in Milan hosted the exhibition “The Shape of Air”. Inside the evocative Sala
del Cenacolo, the new Hypercar was displayed surrounded by six original drawings by Leonardo da
Vinci, creating a dual path: on one side, the extraordinary intelligence of a man capable—six centuries
ago—of representing even the invisible through a series of sheets taken from the Codex Atlanticus,
dedicated to studies on air and their application; on the other side, the thoughts that led the designer
Horacio Pagani and his team to conceive the Utopia project. In 2023, in Vinci, the eponymous book was
presented, a work that aims to delve into the Utopia project and the connection between the Renaissance
artist and the element of air. The next chapter will unfold at the Shanghai Museum, where the exhibition
“The Shape of Air” will accompany the display “Who is Leonardo da Vinci?”
This union of Art, Science and Technology offers a unique visiting experience: Leonardo’s multifaceted
and curious mind is an example of boundless genius, while the Utopia project embodies ingenuity in
automotive design. Both represent mastery, vision, and innovation, demonstrating that these
extraordinary skills transcend epochs and disciplines.» (Luigi Ganzerli, Communication Supervisor &
Project Manager of Pagani Automobili).
