Cleaning out and sorting through boxes always takes me forever. I keep stumbling across long forgotten memories which I’ve squirreled away, presumably only to provide myself with diversionary tactics when supposedly packing to move.
This evening I found my ticket to Korperwelten in Berlin dated 2nd September 2001 whilst rifling through a box of old paperwork and it brought a flood of memories back.
I was fortunate enough invited by Body Worlds staff to view the exhibition in order to write a report which would become the basis for a presentation I gave at the Institute of Medical Illustrators annual conference later that year in Harrogate.
From the moment I walked through the doors of the old railway station in former East Berlin which housed the exhibition and spied the plastinates for the first time I was in awe of the exhibitions’ creator, Gunther Von Hagens.
Watching and photographing the crowds as they walked around the exhibits, staying at each for long periods of time as they came to understand each one, discussing as they went with friends and random strangers, I was thrilled to see that Von Hagens’ dream of giving us ownership of ourselves back was actually being realised.
The once intimate relationship between anatomy and art lost its way somewhere along the line, no more is there a need for artists to dissect in order to understand their subjects through both advances in imaging technology and the centuries of research that have gone before.
Aside from medics and scientists, most of us lead our lives not really comprehending what happens inside (or even wishing to in many cases). Life became too clinical. It became clean. Without understanding ourselves, how are we to look after ourselves properly?
Von Hagens gives us that knowledge back. He risked his own career to present us with ourselves. The majority of visitors to the exhibition have not been shocked as many believe they will be. They have walked away empowered. They have taken their children, told their friends, and so many have donated themselves for plastination when their earthly time is up.
And there have been over 28 million people around the world who have been now to come face to face, heart to heart and brain to brain with themselves.
Curiously, the exhibition has never visited Australia over its 15 year history. I rather wish it would simply so I could visit once more. However these days Von Hagens also operates his own plastination store so you can own your own human heart should you wish (it should be noted that all other human anatomy items are available only for medical shools and scientific purposes), a bulls reproductive system walking stick, fruit slice necklace or even a fluffy chicken.
I read an article today about Gunther who has recently announced that he is suffering from Parkinsons Disease. He has requested that his wife, Dr. Angelina Whalley, plastinate his body after his death in order that he remain present to greet the visitors to his most incredible accomplishment. His wife has agreed.
I have considered Von Hagens a personal hero for the past decade. His wish makes me admire him even more. As for Dr. Whalley, she will continue her beloved husbands work. Body Worlds will remain with Gunther at the helm. But just imagine that task for Angelina. What a truly remarkable woman.
Thank you Von Hagens. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for your legacy.
