Body Worlds Bizarre Real Human Specimen Exhibit
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What happens when science of human anatomy, public display, and human systems of creed collide? A world of controversy over Body Worlds — a mind-blowing traveling exhibit of real preserved human bodies and body parts prepared and preserved by ‘plastination’ — the most highly attended touring exhibition in the world where you will see the human body like never before.
Photo TELUS
Body Worlds is a rare opportunity for the journey of an intimate look at the human body for its complexity of anatomy and physiology beneath the skin’s surface of more than 200 authentic specimens of everything from individual organs to whole body displays.
The extensive collections include an array of healthy and diseased organs, body sections and slices, and full-body specimens in dramatic life-like poses in detailed presentation of organs and body parts which reveal how the muscles, bones and other systems work together through bodies posed in motion during athletic performance in soccer, gymnastics, archery, cycling, dancing and power walking.
You can observe gracefully posed pairs of bodies and 3D slices to gain insights otherwise impossible to see, and unique views of the circulatory system through organs and full-body specimens of the veins and arteries.
Man and Woman. Photo Iwona Kellie
Iced Duet. Photo Jurvetson
Photo Jurvetson
Cased in glass amid the full body plastinates are specimens of real human organs shown in positions that enhance the role of certain systems, some depicting various medical conditions.
There are bodies with prosthetics such as artificial hip joints or heart valves, a liver with cirrhosis, and the lungs of a smoker and non-smoker placed side by side. A curtained-off prenatal wing features fetuses and embryos, some with congenital disorders.
The exhibit states that its purpose and mission is to reveal inner anatomical human structures in a one-of-a-kind physiology lesson, thereby educating people about the human body and anatomy, leading to better health awareness — viewing firsthand how lifestyle choices impact your health.
German anatomist Gunther von Hagens invented and developed plastination in 1977 — a revolutionary and groundbreaking preservation technique which replaces bodily fluids and fat with reactive plastics, thus preserving human tissue in its natural state.
Body World touts that their exhibitions are the only anatomical displays in the world that use donated bodies, willed by donors for plastination by a donation program. To date, more than 9,200 people have agreed to donate their bodies for plastination and use in the exhibits.
Cross-sections. Photo 177
The Family. Photo E-Mendoza
The Family with Child. Photo E-Mendoza
About Plastination
Plastination is a technology to preserve anatomical specimens which allows bodies to be displayed in a durable and lifelike fashion for instruction and education, giving you an opportunity to appreciate what it really means to be human.
Plastination process. Photo Body Worlds. © Institute for Plastination. 2001 – 2008.
All rights reserved.
All bodily fluids and soluble fats are extracted and replaced through vacuum-forced impregnation with reactive resins and elastomers, such as silicon rubber. The specimen is then cured and hardened with light, heat, or certain gases, so that all tissue structures are retained in permanence.
It takes an average of 1,500 hours to transform a specimen into a whole-body plastinate.
Plastinated specimens are dry and odorless and retain their natural structure — identical to their pre-preservation state down to the microscopic level.
“Slice Plastination” is a special variation of this preservation technique. Frozen body specimens are cut into slices which are then plastinated, a useful teaching aid for cross-sectional anatomy.
A woman reclining on her side with her arm raised to reveal her cut away torso, and 8-month fetus – with its position and effect on her internal organs. The woman chose to donate her body with the fetus if it could not be saved when she discovered that she had a terminal illness. This figure is usually displayed in a closed-off area of the exhibition, along with other displays concerning human reproduction and development. Photo Alanna Ralph
Pregnant Woman. Photo E-Mendoza
Fetus in the Womb. Photo E-Mendoza
About Body Worlds
Schooled in anatomy and medicine at the University of Heidelberg, Dr. Gunther von Hagens founded the Institute for Plastination (IfP) while carrying out his teaching and research activities at the Anatomical Institute of the University of Heidelberg in 1993.
In 1995, the Institute for Plastination developed the first Body Worlds exhibit, thus enabling the public an extraordinary view inside the human body, previously only accessible to medical students and researchers.
In addition to updating and operating the exhibit tours, the Institute for Plastination continues to provide specimens and teach the process to more than 400 medical research and teaching institutes in 40 countries worldwide.
The specimens are prepared solely for this purpose and only passed on directly to recognized educational and research establishments and scientific museums, but not to private individuals or dealers.
Despite all of the progress, the need for further research is immense, such as new polymers that could be used to retain the color of tissues and to improve plastination results for specimens such as the eyes, which are difficult to preserve.
Body Worlds 4 is supported by the British Red Cross, the Association of European Cancer Leagues and the Polycystic Kidney Disease charity.
Photo 177
Photo Sookie
Photo Steve Jurvetson
Controversies
The shows have been surrounded by controversy for a number of reasons. Church groups in Europe and some Jewish Rabbis have repeatedly denounced the shows as disrespectful, stating that it cheapens human life, is inconsistent with reverence towards the human body, and is more artistic and exploitative than educational.
Doctor von Hagens has been accused of using bodies of the dead who had not given consent, such as prison inmates and hospital patients from Kyrgyzstan and executed prisoners from China — the latter which led to a lawsuit against Der Spiegel that Doctor von Hagens won. All whole body plastinates exhibited in Body Worlds came from donors who gave informed consent by their body donation program.
A commission created by the California Science Center in Los Angeles in 2004 confirmed von Hagens’ statements in an Ethical Summary document. In the case of children informed consent is obtained from the parents. Some fetal specimens come from established morphological collections. However, NPR and others questioned whether documents were ever matched to bodies in this analysis.
The exhibit has been accused of perpetuating gender stereotypes. Male plastinates are presented in active, and heroic roles — the Horseman, Muscleman and his Skeleton, Fencer, Runner, and Chess Player — while some female plastinates are shown in the context of motherhood, beauty and passivity — a Ballerina wearing a ballerina’s slipper, Reclining Pregnant Woman, a woman whose womb is exposed to show her unborn child, and Angel, whose feet are posed as if wearing high heels, with parts of her feet shaped into stilettos. There are, however, women portrayed as athletes, namely The Swimmer, Figure Skater and Archer.
Photo Spankmeeehard
Photo Spankmeeehard
How veins and arteries run through an arm. Photo E-Mendoza
There have been concerns regarding regulations for plastinate exhibits in general. Reporting from Dalian, China for The New York Times, David Barboza described “a ghastly new underground mini-industry” with “little government oversight, an abundance of cheap medical school labor and easy access to cadavers and organs.”
There are claims that the exhibit of bodies for commercial profit has reduced the donations of bodies for medical learning.
“Somebody at some level of government ought to be able to look at a death certificate, a statement from an embalmer, and donation documents. That’s a reasonable standard to apply.” said Paul Harris, Director of North Carolina State Board of Funeral Services.
However, to ensure the privacy and anonymity required for whole-body plastinates, the Institute for Plastination maintains a firewall between body donors’ documentation and finished plastinated bodies.
The Spine. Photo E-Mendoza
Flamenco dancer displayed at the ‘Body Worlds’ exhibition at the California Science
Center in Los Angeles. Photo AFP / Getty
A Hurdler displayed at Body Worlds
Recently Dr. Von Hagens initiated another educational venture using cadavers, called ‘Gunther’s ER’ — a reality show where Dr. Von Hagens mutilates cadavers to show the effects of severe traumatic events, such as car accidents.
International Trade experts object to the way bodies for commercial display are imported because the way their categorization codes, as “art collections” don’t require CDC stamps and death certificates that are required for medical cadavers.
In an ethical analysis, Thomas Hibbs, Distinguished Professor of Ethics and Culture at Baylor University, compares cadaver displays to pornography in that they reduce the subject to “the manipulation of body parts stripped of any larger human significance.”
Display of a body’s central and peripheral nervous system. The plastination process may
take up to a year for this kind of detail. Photo AFP / Getty
Plastinated head reveals structures of muscle and skin juxtaposed with the skull beneath.
Photo AFP / Getty
Kneeling plastinated body. Photo AFP / Getty
Fascination and Fixation
Toney Dixon’s curiosity and fascination with dead bodies from childhood drew her and her twin sister Erlyene Toney-Alvarez to Body Worlds, where she could view preserved human specimens bisected and stripped of skin.
“It’s like standing in the mirror and seeing yourself in a totally new way.” said Dixon.
The pair were so impressed that they signed up to donate their earthly remains to the exhibit. They’re among the thousands who believe that having their bodies dissected, preserved and displayed will serve a greater purpose than burial or cremation.
“I thought, since I like to think outside the box, this would be a really good way to preserve our bodies instead of the typical funeral.” Toney-Alvarez said. “It’s also something I can go to my death feeling good about, like I made a contribution to humankind.”
Body hangs in suspension at the California Science Center. Photo AFP / Getty
A plastinated digestive tract. Photo AFP / Getty
Plastinated body that’s been split open to reveal facial muscles and the blood vessels
surrounding the heart. Photo AFP / Getty
Since 1965, Americans have had the right to will their bodies to science when the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act established the human body as property. With that law, a donor’s wishes supersede those of the next of kin.
Some researchers credit recent increases in body donations to relaxed social mores.
Medical schools have typically been the most common recipients of willed specimens in America until von Hagens — who earned the moniker Dr. Frankenstein in Europe for performing a public dissection — emerged with an alternative for plastination.
Academic institutions pay the Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg anywhere from $200 to $60,000 for these plastinates. Von Hagens says he relies on donors not only as a source of specimens, but also as representations of Body Worlds’ philosophy.
Rib cage of a plastinated body. Photo AFP / Getty
Photo Getty Images
Photo Body Worlds. © Institute for Plastination. 2001 – 2008. All rights reserved.
“I feel it is in line with democratic principles that you can decide in your lifetime whether to go to the cemetery or put yourself on display in an exhibition to teach the next generation.” he says.
“It is very, very important for the donors to know the purpose of the exhibit, that it is not entertainment, it is education and enlightenment. I have to be in peace with those on display.”
Marc Rohner, a pathologist’s assistant in Columbus, Ohio, donated his leg to Body Worlds when it had to be amputated in 2006 to remove a malignant giant cell tumor, because he wanted others to learn from it.
“What you see in a picture or on “CSI” does not do justice to what the real human body looks like or how it functions.” said Rohner. “By having a three-dimensional leg or black lung in front of you, you have areas of focus and details you can’t see in a photo.”
Photo Guardian
Photo Guardian
Photo Guardian
Rohner became the first living person to give a body part to the Institute, but acknowledges that the exhibits are not for everyone.
But Toney-Alvarez says she will visit Body Worlds, even if her mother and sister are on display.
“Once you have passed on, it’s just a shell. The memories are in the heart and in the mind.” she said.
Photo Guardian
Photo Guardian
Photo Guardian
Photo Guardian
The Poker Playing Trio, 2006. Photo Body Worlds. © Institute for Plastination. 2001 – 2008.
All rights reserved.
Featured in the 2006 film Casino Royale. In the player on the right, both parietal bones were lifted to make the brain visible from behind. The brain has been horizontally sectioned and folded out. Beneath it is the cerebellum, below which the spinal cord is visible inside the vertebral canal. In the player on the left, the abdomen has been opened, giving a view of the intestinal loops. The unusual and striking head of the central figure was created by separating the frontal bone and cheekbones from the posterior skull bones.
Body Worlds is currently on display at TELUS World of Science in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada up to October 13 2008, Baltimore, Maryland Science Center until September 1 2008, September 7 2008 in Los Angeles at the California Science Center, The Mosi Museum of Science in Castlefield, Manchester, and permanently on display at the Plastinarium in Guben, Germany.
Visit the Body Worlds website to learn more.
Body Worlds
Gunther von Hagens on History Channel
Plastination Process
Sources: Body Worlds Edmonton, California Science Center, CNN, and Wikipedia
Tags:bizarre Body Worlds exhibitions exhibits features odd plastinates plastination science unusual weird
This is a great exhibit. They were also in Amsterdam last year but unfortunately I was traveling at the time. However, I do recommend seeing it.
Sounds and looks bizarre – an eye-opener.
Hope it will come to Norway one day too – then I will go.
I almost went to this exhibit when I was in Vegas. I like that they put the body in different positions of life rather than just standing like most science studies. It would creep me out a bit too much to go to see them though!
I just submitted this to Digg. Yes, bizarre it is but quite beautiful as well.
I was quite excited to see this myself when I first heard that it was here in town, Peety. But the more that I think on this, I’m kind of on the fence about going. It is indeed quite amazing though.
It’s certainly eye opener, Renny. The detail put into the exhibits is amazing.
That’s an excellent point about how they have displayed the bodies, Monavie. I’m a very open-minded person, but I’m just not sure that I could handle seeing this in person. I had a difficult enough time with dissection in Biology class as a kid as it was, and can’t bear to as much as go to a graveyard to visit friends or family. I like to remember them as they were, not think of them buried beneath where I’m standing.
Oh my, thanks Kuanyin. I do have to admit that there is some beauty in this in an eerie kind of way.
awesome post
incredible images and concepts Deborah…but certainly not to everyones taste I would imagine ..
the pregnant woman and the flamenco dancer appeal to me …
amazing detail…but they do make me shudder !!!
I’m sure the Body Worlds exhibition is most beneficial to all of mankind, even though it is surrounded with controversies.
I would definitely attend the exhibition if they are in town.
The plastination of Pregnant woman is very graphic and a bit scary.
wow is right* I love it + I would Go!! Very Fascinating
+ a Worthwhile Learning Experience for Everybody!
Interesting of course that Religions + The Church don’t want
People to See it!! Then again they’ve managed to very Successfully
keep People in the Dark Ages Forever* So much for Enlightenment
+ here we are in 2008!!
I’m blown away also by the Artistic Quality to this – Amazing Art
in it’s own right*
Put me in the controversy group this time, chica… especially that pregnant woman plastination makes me shiver with 1000 fears. I find the exhibition in general macabre and, eye opener or not, how many of the people going there actually learn something? Do they go there to learn or do they go there for the same reason they watch a horror movie?
That the church is against this form of entertainment is no surprise. Many sacred values go down the drain when bodies of dead people are treated as commodities.
I am no hypocrite, Deb… and if you ask me if I’d go to see it my answer would be yes. I am no better than many in this respect – I am curious by nature and the macabre fascinates me. But at least I acknowledge this is plain wrong and I don’t go “wow” about something that should inspire a prayer for the souls of the dead instead.
Deborah,
As always, you have a gift for presenting the interesting and thought provoking to us. This particular example is made even more so by the ethereal nature of the subject matter obviously.
As for my comment – This post reached me on a number of levels, none of which are provocative of an increased awareness of the beauty of the human form (in apparent action or not). The reason some of the comments reflect (at least) a degree of uneasiness is largely due to an innate sense within intelligent people as to when a border or threshold has been reached.
If someone says; “The image of the pregnant woman makes me feel uneasy”, then there is a damned good reason for it. The entirety of what happened just to that one “sculpture?” is made wholly dark, clinical and is also dehumanizing to the extreme.
Guttural, extreme and even curious wanderings into unliving and surgical analysis, exhibition and voyarism of actual people in this way is tantamount to the worst kind of pornography. I know I sound like a prude probably, but why not examine if I am right or wrong here rather than a cursory labeling exercise for those who do not agree?
By way of comparison throngs of people once gathered out of morbid curiosity in medieval times to watch the living be tortured to death in the most macabre ways imaginable. How far removed is this exhibits effect from that collective mentality? Would you rather be remembered, revered and honored in life and death or reduced to nothing more than a graphic exhibit by and for those unable grasp the full concept of human decency and honoring one another. I get this image of William Wallace being disemboweled as the crusty, bitter throng looks on. I know, too traditional in my thinking huh?
We all ride a razor’s edge in this life – the thin line between light and dark. Who am I to say when another has crossed? However, who are we all to blur this all important precipice of humanity? What we condone becomes the new line. The woman with child exhibit is of course the most disturbing to me. The “Wow” this is cool aspect does not even seem to apply in this instance. Consider what happened here and how we should view or treat it.
When considering the true nature of beauty, please contrast and compare the feelings evoked by two separate identities – that of this “art” and from whence the heart of this poem was derived:
“When God thought of mother, He must have laughed with satisfaction, and framed it quickly—so rich, so deep, so divine, so full of soul, power, and beauty, was the conception.”
– Henry Ward Beecher
or here:
” Mother is the name for God on the lips
and in the hearts of little children.”
– William Makepeace Thackeray
We are taught even as children to celebrate life and to revere the dead. I often wonder what roads we all must have traveled to deviate so far from simple god-like truths? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder indeed – but what has been placed behind our eyes? I think if we feel the need for a biology lesson in motion, we should go to the local University and check out their sports medicine program. On the other hand, if we need to go plum “neo-modern” with sculpture this image might provoke the light of life essence motherhood should convey.
Deb, I applaud you on your work and I apologize for being so long winded. There are some things worth an hour or two, or at least more than a cursory snippet of a comment with no thought involved. Keep up the great work gal.
Always,
Phil
I hv been a regular reader to this blog and I am surprised to find the whole lot of unbelievable stuffs you present to your readers. Your efforts are commendable. I always eagerly wait for your next post with lots of enthusiasm. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Kim, and no, this definitely is something that will not appeal to everyone. We all have our own perceptions as to what we define as acceptable in life and science. It does make me shudder when I really give the concept some consideration as well.
It is indeed both graphic AND scary, Betshopboy.
Thanks so much Billy. But I’m not so sure that I would consider this art. Even its creator tries to step away from that consideration. But that may possibly be due to the controversies over doing something like this in the name of art.
Yes, it is indeed macabre, Mig. There has been a number of people stating that they are coming away from the exhibit with a new outlook on their health habits, so hopefully there is some sort of benefit for some people.
The more serious consideration that I give this, the more I think that I don’t want to go see it. You can never ‘unsee’ something like this. I don’t know that I could go without having conscious nightmares over seeing a human being dissected and in ’slices.’
I will give the creator one thing, the ‘whole’ bodies in general have at least been poised in some sense of gracefulness.
Phil, you make a very powerful statement, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for expressing yourself so vividly.
Perhaps it’s a numbing or even dumbing down of our sensitivities to moral issues in recent times that makes this seem so acceptable to many. “What we condone becomes the new line.” Very true, Phil.
Voyeurism is actually a very good term that you put to this, and why so many likely feel an attraction, yet creepy about it at the same time.
Thanks so much, there is absolutely no apology necessary for being long-winded. I sincerely appreciate that you were.
Thanks so much Croatia, I’m glad that you enjoy coming here
I went to this when it was in Seattle. Seriously one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen!
Great post. The exhibit looks fasinating. I would love to see it in person. Thank you for the pictures and allowing others to have a peak.
Body Worlds I is currently showing in Edmonton, AB, Canada.
The first time I saw the commercial on TV advertising it, I felt sick to my stomach. The more I see of the commercials & print ads, the more curious I get. A couple of days ago I was at my Massage Therapists’ office & asked if she had gone. Of course she had & enjoyed it immensely… except for the room showing the bodies of the young children & pregnant women. She said that was disturbing.
I came to this site looking for some pictures of the displays in attempt to make the decision if I will go or not. I will not be going. It is the human body, but I don’t consider this science, but rather art. Art bores me & this particular display completely creeps me out.
I’m glad this was able to help you to make a decision Cheryl. The thing is, once you see something, you can’t ‘unsee’ it.
I went to go see the exhibit in Charlotte, NC last December and yes it was a little disturbing but it was truly amazing. The pregnant ladies/baby room was real hard to look at but at the same time fascinating. I went with my mom, a nurse, and we entered at the same time as a group of med students who were truly there to learn. The other thing that weirded me out was the finger and toe nails still on the people… I don’t know why but I had a hard time getting over that. I’d say if you have a chance to go you should take it though!
Thanks for your feedback Emily.
While I don’t discount that his efforts to preserve human bodies is anything but amazing, I do find it rather disturbing myself.
I find it rather creepy just reading your description of the fingernails and toenails. Mostly likely due to the fact that they’re a part of the body that continues to grow quickly which we regularly groom ourselves for. Other parts of the body other than hair are things that we’re much more unconscious of. If the bodies had hair on them, it would likely be very eerie as well.
DE
Kein Tabù ist sicher vor der Kommerzialisierung. Die Darstellungen sind von Banalen Menschen zusammengestellte geschmacklose Szenerien.
Jede Würde ist absichtlich ignoriert, und der Mensch zur Spielzeugpuppe degradiert, ohne Irgendeinen Kriterium; hauptsache Spektakularität.
IT
Nessun tabu è sicuro davanti allo sfruttamento commerciale. Le rappresentazioni sono composte da persone banali, le scene senza un senso e criterio.
Ogni Valore e facoltà umana è percettivamente distorta, un manichino- giocattolo degrada le capacità dell’uomo solo per la spettacolarità .
EN
No tabu isn’t secure from Commercial exploitation. The scenes are composed from very banal people and without criteria.
Every good sense and respect for the human abilities and capacities are degradet and reduced to a toy-like objects- and scenes, sacrificed for spectacularity.
I tend to agree with you, Jo.
Ils s’agit de chinois mort qui sans leur consentement ont ” donné” leur corps à la “science” . Parait même que l’ont va chercher “sur commande” le type de corps requis . Belle affaire . Et dire que les foules se rue sur ce type d’exposition ! Vive les droits de l’homme !
I saw this in St. Louis with my family. To be honest, it was packed and we ended up bored out of our minds. I was taking an anatomy class at the time and thought I’d love it, but we found that there is only so much you can look at before it comes across as all being the same. The most interesting things to me were the anomalies such as the tumors, lung cancer, the heart with the pacemaker, etc. Perhaps the crowed impacted our feelings, crawling all over other people to see the exhibit.
I have no ethical problems with it at all, as long as each body can be accounted for and identifiable as someone who willingly donated it. My oldest stepdaughter was impressed with it and told us that she is planning on donating her body along with her beloved German Shepard. Her hubby isn’t crazy about the idea, but it’s her decision and if she goes thru the proper channels, I have total respect for her choice.
I can actually see how it would seem a little redundant after a while. But yes, it’s up to each of us to have the right to decide how we wish to deal with our ’shells’ once we pass away.
I am not quite sure about this… I just think some very sick and twisted individuals would believe in “die young and leave a good looking body”. For medical science okay, but somehow, I can’t justify it for art.
I read with interest all of the prior postings. What you have to understand is that the bodies displayed in the exhibit were all donated. Informed, aware adults made the conscious decision to donate their bodies to this cause. Parents gave consent for any children’s bodies used. I saw Body Worlds 2 yesterday at the Maryland Science Center and was fascinated, and not the least bit disgusted by it. It truly inspires awe and wonder at the way the human body functions. I was also keenly aware that these are simply the physical remains of human beings. Any “soul” or “consciousness” were long separated from these remains. Several people commented that they disturbed only by the depictions of fetuses or pregnant women. I don’t understand why this would be the case. Human beings can lease to live at any stage of their development due to disease, accidents or other causes. After seeing this exhibit, I have a whole new understanding, fascination, and respect for my own body. I thank the people who were informed and enlightened enough to donate their remains for the advancement of scientific understanding. I agree with the comments made about the “church” trying to keep us in the Dark Ages. We have evolved way beyond that and hopefully will continue to progress.
I don’t know about this. It makes me feel weird. It’s literally displaying dead bodies infrount of the public. It makes me feel sad.
my daughter showed desire to donate her body as she is only 22 but quite impressed to see the exibition. we appreciate human body and message it gives that we should look after it and not waste it
I have no doubt that the exhibit inspires a whole new appreciation for many, Bev, and for that, it is a good thing if more people treat their bodies better for it.
This is an amazing display of human bodies, it’s great to see just how unique every body is internally and externally. I was in awe.
I don’t think I could donate the dead body of anyone for a display. I saw a story on the news about this a while ago, and while it’s a fascinating mix of human anatomy and art, my respect for the dead is too ingrained to just let go and enjoy it.
I think that this exibit gives a new perspective on future scientists and newcommers to the medicine world. I probably would have never saw the exibit if it weren’t for a great anatomy teacher that turned a whole classroom onto this great exibition.
A friend just showed me this site today. He’s in europe and went to see the expo. I live in the US. I hope it comes to my area because I would love to see it. To me, the human body in and of itself is art. It is so full of intricacies and uniqueness. Everything from the individual expressions, skin tones, texture of hair, why some people snort and others squeek when they laugh, to the patterns their wrinkles make on their skin as they age while they’re alive. And then because some are willing to donate their bodies for this and others are willing to do things to create this exposition….we are able to see just how intricate, delicate and complex the human body is internally. To me, the fact that these people are displayed in various positions is not degrading. By being placed in the varying positions, it allows us to see how our various muscles and such move to accomodate those positions. I’ve read many people mentioning the unease in viewing the pregnant mothers/babies room. I would say that anyone would feel uneasy. Obviously they did not kill themselves for science which means something unplanned and trajic happened to them to cut their life short and I would think that would be a humbling experience for anyone looking at them. For anyone looking at any of the bodies actually that did not die of old age and natural causes. But these people donated their bodies and thanks to them, we can see inside ourselves physically. So is it art? I think it is. But, it’s art in the sense that the human body itself is a work of art. In each position that these bodies are in, it allows us to gain a new perspective. How even so much as an inch of difference in the placement of a finger changes the position of a muscle or group of muscles. I would hope that when someone goes to see this display that they are not going to see it for some horror show type effect. I hope they walk away from it with an awe and appreciation of how complex yet delicate the human body is. If they happen to be religious then I would hope they walk away from it with even more of a reverence of how truly miraculous the flesh and blood body is. (I say flesh and blood rather than human because I noticed that animals were also used and I find their bodies just as miraculous and delicate as our own)
I attended the exhibit in Salt Lake City. I found it to be inspiring, & educational. However, it was also humbling at times. It made me think of the way I treat my own body. I had been a smoker for 20 years. I had just quit 2 weeks prior to going, after seeing the respiratory system & what smoking does to the human body, it has given me even more determination to stay quit. In the gift shop, I bought a post card with the smokers lung & non-smokers lung. I hung it on my bathroom mirror along with my list of reasons to quit. It has become a great visual to keep me focused on why I need to quit. I feel that this exhibit can truly be beneficial to people in respecting the human body, and to take care of your health. Have been quit 3 months now, and determined as ever to stay quit. Thanks to body worlds, and those who donated their bodies to possibly help save mine & others.
British Red Cross offers 2 for 1 voucher for the Body Worlds show in London at the O2 Arena. The voucher could be downloaded from http://www.redcross.org.uk/bodyworlds2for1
this was awesome
I saw this exposition in Marseille-France in 2008.
Fantastic,beautiful and wonderful is our body…
Mixing art and science is really wonderful.
…………………………………..
C’est une des plus belles expositions que j’ai vu.
Ce melange entre l’art et le science est une exception que on voit pas tous les jours.
En tant que médecin et artiste peintre ça ma inormement touché.
C’est beau…il faut voire
I don’t know about this. It makes me feel weird. It’s literally displaying dead bodies infrount of the public. It makes me feel sad.
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I am very excited that people have the opportunity to experience such a display. I saw a billboard on my way home from Indiana, saying that it would be somewhere in Indiana or Louisville, around the middle of this month, if someone could let me know when, where, and cost, or even a link, I would greatly appreciate it. THANKS!!!
This is discusting, while cool at the same time. It’s an interesting way to explore the science of the human body and it’s decomposure.
I have to say this is one of the best exhibits I have ever seen. I can understand why it is conterversal, but as a physical therapy student, I think it is so awesome! What an interesting way to look at the human body in a way that is virtually impossible otherwise! I highly recommend visiting the exhabit!
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as cool as this is, it still boggles my mind that it’s being done on real people. to be able to slice through a human body and remove the head… the thought sends shivers through me. i’m not sure if the purpose of this show really justifies the fact that you’re indeed butchering a real human body. leaves me unsure of whether this show is acceptable or not for myself personally.
Saw something like this at the South Street Seaport in NYC. It really inspired me and it taught me a lot. It may seem different looking at it in pictures, but it’s not about “OMG! THOSE ARE REAL?!? EWW!!” It’s about learning about what’s in you, because no matter how disgusting you think it is, you can’t get rid of it. It’s how you work, and nothing but.
great idea…veery smart and realistic….Inspired,creative…
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