The traveling exhibition called “Body Works” which displays corpses in various stages of life from conception to old age, is currently in Berlin’s Postbanhof. It’s drawing some controversy because one of the displays has the corpses arranged in the act of performing sex.
Torsten Woehlert, spokesman for Berlin’s Culture Ministry said “As it is not against the law, only against good taste, there is not much the government could do anyway.”
Conceived by Gunther von Hagens, the exhibition displays bodies with their muscles, nerves and tendons on show using a preservation technique he pioneered called “plastination” which involves replacing all body fluids and soluble fat with specially manufactured plastics.
On his Web site, the exhibition’s purpose and goal is described as “to reveal and expose the anatomical structure of the human body and its function, in a unique lesson, and to teach us about the complexity of the human body, its anatomy, and the importance of leading a healthy way of life.”
The bodies used in the display are from donors who declared their interest and willingness to particpate in the display with their signed consent for the “benefit of education, health and the awareness of the wide public to the different systems of the human body.”
While I have as much interest in science as most, I’m not sure I would be willing to pay good money to see this particular exhibit.
What about you? Is this an exhibit on your “must see” list? Why?
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I suppose there are many who would love this idea and these guys will most probably end up making a lot of money. I personally would not want to see something like this. In my opinion these guys are nuts.
Lyndi´s last blog post..Weekend Round-Up – 8 May 2009
I don’t know how much money he’s made — the exhibit has been in several US cities and I don’t know how many European cities so far. I guess it must be drawing some audiences. It isn’t exactly to my taste either which may be why he added an exhibit that would draw controversy.
I saw the exhibit when it was here in Phoenix. I looked at it with more of a scientific mind frame. It was intriguing to me to see how the entire body works…what supports what. Where all of the nerve endings run…the arteries and veins. And, while you can see this in diagrams in books, it’s nothing like seeing it in 3-D. There was a lot of information on graphic boards that I think provided good information on the history of medicine. Now, the agenda behind the entire exhibit, perhaps, may make me think differently –but until there is evidence of foul play, then overall I think it was a good exhibit.
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Waterrose — thanks for telling me about it first hand — I read about it when it was touring the US and though then that it would be interesting IF I could get past the ewww factor, but the article most recently in the news about it has me questioning the taste of the exhibit’s choreographer.