Gunther von Hagen is very controversial in his native country of Germany. His peers call his work unethical and provocative. We have visited one of the first exhibitions back in 1999. While we were impressed with the specimens our enthusiasm was curbed a bit by the knowlwedge that NOT ALL exhibits are donations. When short of bodies, Prof. Hagen goes to Chinese prisons and buys bodies of deliquents. We were a bit crept out by the image of the dead pregnant woman and her unborn on display....but that's just us.
(Click on picture to enlarge)
Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS exhibits are the first public anatomical exhibitions of real human plastinates. They have been on display worldwide for ten years and so far, more than 26 million visitors have viewed the exhibits at venues in cities across Asia, Europe, the United States and Canada.
The exceptional success of the exhibits is to a great extent due to its educational value. They are structured in such a way that visitors experience it much as they would a three-dimensional textbook: anatomy as the foundation of the body is laid out in an educational and elucidating fashion. Visitors learn about the body’s functions; they also realize how highly sophisticated and beautiful, and yet how fragile the body is.
"The older I get, the more I realize that death is normal and that it is life that is exceptional," said Dr. von Hagens. "I hope this exhibition will encourage people to strive to live with inspiration every day throughout their lives."(http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html)
The exceptional success of the exhibits is to a great extent due to its educational value. They are structured in such a way that visitors experience it much as they would a three-dimensional textbook: anatomy as the foundation of the body is laid out in an educational and elucidating fashion. Visitors learn about the body’s functions; they also realize how highly sophisticated and beautiful, and yet how fragile the body is.
"The older I get, the more I realize that death is normal and that it is life that is exceptional," said Dr. von Hagens. "I hope this exhibition will encourage people to strive to live with inspiration every day throughout their lives."(http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html)
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Currently, one can visit those exhibitions in Tampa, Houston, London and Heidelberg(http://www.bodyworlds.com/en/exhibitions/current_exhibitions.html#BW_NorthAmerica)
von Hagen set out to glorify the body and to educate us and to help us deal with life and death.He was not showing disrespect to the dead.People totally took him the wrong way.
ReplyDeleteIn it's own way his exhibits are a higher form of art.Fortunately there are some enlightened people too.
The ones who disapprove still go to his exhibits.
I have heard of his works..Houston is not to far from here...wish I could go..I know a few people that have seen his work,quite a few have heard of him...I learned about him when I was working,you meet people from all over the Globe.
ReplyDeleteJeannie. Many professors in Germany will disagree. The academical world is very opposed to him. They say van Hagen is doing nothing new. Plastination has been around for centuries. However, nobody had the idea to make "a show "out of it. He was expelled from the German University he was teaching at. He
ReplyDeletegot his title in China, which is not recognized in Germany. He is not allowed to practice in Germany. And there is the very controversal practice of his to buy bodies of Chinese Death Row candidates. He collects those bodes after execution often without the consent of the executed. He plastinates them in a huge warehouse in China.
I don't like to think he's making a mass production business out of this.It's a shame.
ReplyDeleteHe had higher ideals when he started.Maybe money turned his head.
Not mass-production but questionable practices when obtaining those bodies. Only 30% are real body donations.
ReplyDeleteTwo years ago he wanted to perform a public autopsy, but was shut down by the authorities.
His peers cricitize that he makes "a show" of a serious medical procedure.
Currently, there is no Unversity in Middle Europe who would offer him a chair.
Why is it,all my stories take three parts??I never knew I was so long winded or took so long to get to the point.
ReplyDeleteWhen you pass that fifty year milestone girls you taking on all the attributes of an old fart.
Now Jeannie...you know that is not true. While I like to keep it short and sweet you like it long and elaborate. NO problem.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am a bit surprised that you take a stand in favor of van Hagen. I would have guessed you might agree with me. You caught me off guard.