It's controversial, educational and experimental; it is art of the human body, literally.
Body Worlds 3, created by Gunther von Hagens, is an exhibit of real bodies donated to science after death. These bodies are preserved, and displayed in an exhibit that travels across the world. The exhibit is coming to the Arizona Science Center (600 E. Washington St.) Jan. 26.
"The specimens in the Body Worlds exhibitions stem from our body donation program," said Angelina Whalley, the creative designer and conceptual planner of
von Hagens' Body Worlds exhibitions and his wife. "Each specimen is irreplaceable, making the health lessons of each specimen unique and treasured."
Von Hagens, a German anatomist, invented Plastination, a technique that preserves bodies before they decompose, in 1977.
"Thirteen years later the first whole-body plastinate was made," Whalley said.
The process includes dehydrating and hardening tissues, organs and the body by using various natural compounds. Plastination replaces fat and tissues with plastic.
"This exhibit is a showcase of human anatomy by use of preserved human corpses," Whalley said. "The bodies have had their fluids removed and replaced with a polymer, which gives them a very plastic look and feel.
"Every sort of way you can think of dissecting a body is shown here," she added.
The controversy lies behind the debate over whether the actual exhibits are ethical treatment of the human body.
Greg Lloyd, a biochemistry freshman, said, "As long as the bodies were donated to science, I don't see a problem with them being put on display; what could teach better than the real thing?"
Kat Consador, psychology senior, said she disagrees.
"I don't like the fact that the skins are peeled off and the muscles are exposed for eternity," Consador said. "It is disrespectful to the bodies."
The objective of Body Worlds is to display preserved bodies for educational purposes, said Jackie Medrano, a plant biology senior.
"I personally think it is a great learning opportunity," she said.
Whalley said, "Our mission is to further health education … to present the body in a dramatic, memorable, beautiful way so that people can learn about anatomy, disease and health."
David Matteson, a 26-year-old Phoenix resident who enjoyed the exhibit in Las Vegas, said, "I was a little hesitant at first, and told myself I would leave if it was too disturbing, but it wasn't.
"There was nothing gross about it; it was completely captivating and very educational," he said.
Pieces displayed at the Body Worlds exhibit include lung comparisons of a smoker and a non-smoker. Many of these pieces put healthy lifestyle choices into perspective for viewers.
"I often hear from visitors that by seeing the exhibition they realize how fragile yet capable their own human body is," Whalley said.
Through Plastination, Body Worlds 3 is able to showcase a woman during pregnancy.
"The most interesting thing for me was seeing the preserved fetuses, which showed the developmental stages in the womb over nine months," Matteson said.
Designs also demonstrate bodies and muscles during exercise activities. For example, bodies form positions of a skate border doing a jump, or a person in the motion of kicking a soccer ball.
According to Whalley, future projects for Body Worlds 3 include a plastinate of an elephant.
"This specimen will take a total of three years to complete and will be the largest plastinated specimen ever," she said.
The exhibit's popularity has increased since it was first held in Japan in 1995. It is currently traveling the United States.
According to the Body Worlds official Web site, the company has received 200 donated bodies from North America and a total of 6,800 donated bodies from around the world to display in their exhibits so far.
Now, Arizona has a chance to view this anticipated exhibit. Medrano said she is enthused to see this exhibit at the Arizona Science Center.
"I will definitely see the exhibit. When is the next time I'm going to have a chance to see an actual human body like this?" she said.
The exhibit will be at the Science Center through May 28. Student tickets are $18.50.
"It's something that just has to be seen," Medrano said.
Whalley added, "Overwhelmingly, I hear from visitors that they were deeply moved to see the human body presented in such a way; they are grateful to the body donors."
Reach the reporter at: lauren.misak@asu.edu.
