Unveiling the Body's Secrets: Magdeburg's "Body Worlds" Debut
Exhibition of preserved human bodies, "Body Worlds," makes its debut in Magdeburg - Unveiling of the "Body Worlds" Exhibition Debuts in Magdeburg for the First Time
Step into the Hyparschale in Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt for an extraordinary journey as the "Body Worlds" exhibition by plastinator Gunther von Hagens makes its debut. Angelina Whalley, exhibition curator, boldly declared at the opening, "From the first cell to the last movement: everything leaves traces." This exhibition, under the theme "Cycle of Life," emphasizes that the body is a mirror of our lifestyle choices.
"Every action we take, be it physical activity, diet, or social interactions, impacts our body - positively or negatively," Whalley explained. The exhibition features real human specimens from body donors, highlighting various life stages and physical transformations. Over 23,000 people have registered as body donors, contributing to this groundbreaking display.
From its humble beginnings in Japan over 30 years ago, "Body Worlds" has evolved significantly. Early exhibits primarily focused on anatomical aspects, offering a detailed view of the body's structures. In recent years, the exhibitions have taken on a more thematic approach, showcasing the effects of lifestyle factors like smoking and obesity. They also incorporate artistic elements, blurring the line between science and art.
Initially, the controversy surrounding "Body Worlds" saw it labeled as a scandal and a desecration of the dead. However, ethicist Franz Josef Wetz, who has advised the Institute for Plastination for 25 years, noted that such criticism has largely dissipated. He reflects, "By gazing into a stranger's body, we discover ourselves."
The plastination process, pioneered by von Hagens, preserves bodies by replacing cell fluids with plastics, resulting in life-like human specimens. It takes approximately 1,500 hours, or a year, to create a whole-body plastinate. The exhibition in Magdeburg marks yet another milestone for this pioneering exhibition series, mirroring the growing importance of health and wellbeing education in our society.
In the "Body Worlds" exhibition, a thematic approach is taken to showcase how various lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and social interactions can influence health and wellness, merging the boundaries between science and art. Vocational training, such as plastination, plays a crucial role in the creation of life-like human specimens, offering a unique insight into the body's transformations and the effects of medical-conditions and science on our well-being, as demonstrated in Magdeburg's debut of the exhibition under the theme "Cycle of Life."
