Fascinating and just a little freaky…
My husband had the day off from work yesterday and we decided to do something “fun” with our 8 year old daughter. Body Worlds 2 opened at the Denver Museum of Science and Nature March 10 and runs through July 23 here in Denver. It’s a traveling exhibit of plastinated dead human bodies pioneered by Gunther von Hagens, a German physian. The Body Worlds website has a ton of information and more images from the exhibit whose mission states that it is for health education.
It was fascinating and just a little voyeristic. I had to remind myself that these specimens, whose skin was removed often just leaving the skeleton, muscles and organs visible were once living human beings. Also all of the cadavers used in the exhibit had donated their bodies to medicine. The bodies were arranged in various activities so that viewers could see how the body’s mechanisms worked.
It was incredibly crowded and we had to purchase a ticket for a specific time because the museum only allowed 600 people into the exhibit at a time. There was a little interesting piece of information that links back to my art education. Many artists going back in time, especially during the Renaissance including Leonardo da Vinci, performed clandestine autopsies on dead bodies in order to document the human body and to accurately paint, draw or sculpt the body.
Both healthy and diseased human organs and tissues were presented. We left thinking, okay no smoking, drinking, fat consumption and we must exercise like maniacs!! I’m not sure how long the healthy commitment will last…we’re only human after all.
June 17th, 2006 at 4:40 pm
I saw this when it came to columbus and it was fascinating. What fascinated you the most? There was a torso that was just veins and arteries and it was so delicate, like lace. what did your daughter think?
June 17th, 2006 at 8:24 pm
Yes, I saw the veins and arteries…ones around a brain and nervous system, an arm and hand, a lamb. I don’t think I saw a whole body, but it was very crowded. Apparently there are 3 Body Worlds traveling right now. I liked the juxtaposition of the healthy tissues and organs against diseased ones. My daughter was a bit leary of the whole thing…she said she felt sick. She was most interested in the fetuses and the pregnant woman. Overall an interesting exhibit.
June 18th, 2006 at 12:23 am
That would be amazing to see.
June 19th, 2006 at 12:57 am
eeek I don’t want to see diseased organs because I smoke LOL! I bet this was a very fascinating and educational show!
June 19th, 2006 at 1:21 pm
I found the pregnant woman so sad but interesting. I am still conflicted about the fetus’s and babies though. Can’t put my finger on it.
I liked the displays in which he used artists renderings in the rennaisance for some of his figures.
From an artists perspective it was very informative and helpful. As an observer it was morbidly fascintating to see what we look like under this skin. We are strange beasts huh LOL!
June 20th, 2006 at 6:13 pm
I know what you mean about the confliction you feel about the fetus’ and pregnant woman. Apparently, there is some controversy about how the good doctor acquired her body. Controversy makes for a good show!