The exhibition "The Flying Poet, Santos Dumont" showcases the talents of the Brazilian inventor, a visionary who dedicated himself to science and technology, inspired by art. Featuring audiovisual content and interactive activities, the exhibit includes prototypes of Santos Dumont's major creations and two full-size replicas: right at the museum entrance, the pioneering 14bis; and, at the exhibition site, the Demoiselle airplane, the inventor's most complete project.

The exhibition's objective is to highlight Santos Dumont as a young entrepreneur who embraced concepts that are still relevant today: he made his designs available for replication, rather than registering patents, in a kind of creative commons before the term existed; one of the country's first contemporary designers, with precise, simple, and functional lines; one of the world's most celebrated Brazilians, who launched fashion in Paris, the world capital, at the beginning of the last century.

In the year marking the 110th anniversary of the 14bis flight—the first officially certified flight in history—Santos Dumont serves as the guiding thread for a journey through the history of flight. "We highlight Santos Dumont's poetic and artistic side, hence the title 'the flying poet.' He was a man of science who drew inspiration from art—it was the stories of Jules Verne, for example, that sparked his dream of flying. In the exhibition, we show that exercising creativity is a way to drive discovery," says curator Gringo Cardia.

"We want to celebrate Brazil's capacity for innovation and scientific endeavors, motivating young people and children to pursue scientific endeavors," explains Luiz Alberto Oliveira, curator of the Museum of Tomorrow, emphasizing the importance of celebrating the Brazilian inventor during a time when Rio de Janeiro will be receiving many tourists due to the Olympics. "Santos Dumont is an iconic figure. He not only created a flying artifact, but also determined the process of flight."

Visitors can try out an airplane

The exhibition is divided into five areas. In the main room, seven scale models created by Santos Dumont—from the Brasil balloon to the Demoiselle airplane, a synthesis of all his projects, including the 14bis—showcase the evolution of the technology developed by the inventor. Interactive screens unfold several layers of content, bringing together documents, images, and digitized historical photos.

A life-size Demoiselle (built in Samba City and transported to the Museum of Tomorrow) will be on display, and visitors can compete for a virtual "flight" through early 20th-century Paris and Rio de Janeiro, via video editing. A documentary about Santos Dumont's career occupies the Cinema Room, while in the Balloon Room, a film explores the inventions that inspired the poet and the evolution of the dream of flight, from the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci.

In a fun way, visitors come into contact with physics concepts such as aerodynamics and engine mechanics in the Paper Airplane Workshop room: launched on a runway, the little planes trigger the Curiosities Game, in which videos show information about how aircraft work and many other interesting facts.

The exhibition "The Flying Poet, Santos Dumont" is exclusively sponsored by Shell Brasil and supported by the Federal Government through the Federal Law for Cultural Incentives. The exhibition offers audio guides in English and Spanish for international audiences, as well as sign language and audio description.