The Problematic Exposure of Flesh

THE PROBLEMATIC

EXP OSURE OF FLESH

For over a decade, plastinator Gunter von Hagen has enraged and fascinated audiences around the world through his always controversial Body World shows. His work is carried out in the name of education but at times ethical considerations around his work tend to focus on the inappropriateness of some displays. We interviewed the

scientist/artist as his show focusing on plastinated animals hits the road. Questions by Giovanni Aloi

Text by The Institution for Plastination

unther von Hagens' life reads like an The family lived briefly in Berlin and its archetypal scientist's resume— vicinity, before finally settling in Greiz, a small town distinguished by early precocity, where von Hagens remained until the age of 19. G scholarship, discovery, experimentation, As a child, he was diagnosed with a rare bleeding and invention. It is also the profile of a man disorder that restricted his activities and required shaped by extraordinary events, and marked by long bouts of hospitalization that he says, fostered defiance and daring. Von Hagens' two year in him a sense of alienation and nonconformity. imprisonment by East German authorities for At age 6, von Hagens nearly died and was in political reasons, his release after a $20,000 intensive care for many months. His daily payment by the West German government, his encounters there with doctors and nurses left an pioneering invention that halts decomposition of indelible impression on him, and ignited in him a the body after death and preserves it for didactic desire to become a physician. He also showed eternity, his collaboration with donors including his an interest in science from an early age, best friend, who willed and entrusted their bodies reportedly "freaking out" at the age of twelve to him for dissection and public display, and his during the Russian launch of Sputnik into space. "I role as a teacher carrying on the tradition of was the school authority and archivist on Sputnik," Renaissance anatomists, make his a remarkable he said. life in science. Anatomist, inventor of Plastination, In 1965, von Hagens entered medical and creator of Body Worlds—The Original school at the University of Jena, south of Leipzig, Exhibitions of Real Human Bodies—von Hagens and the birthplace of writers Schiller and Goethe. (christened Gunther Gerhard Liebchen) was born His unorthodox methods and flamboyant in 1945, in Alt-Skalden, Posen, Poland—then part personality were remarkable enough to be noted of Germany. To escape the imminent and on academic reports from the university. "Gunther eventual Russian occupation of their homeland, Liebchen is a personality who does not approach his parents placed the five-day-old infant in a tasks systematically. This characteristic and his laundry basket and began a six-month trek west imaginativeness, that sometimes let him forget by horse wagon. 48

Gunter von Hagens Blood Vessel Configuration of a Rooster © Gunther von Hagens, Institute for Plastination, Heidelberg, Germany,

Gunter von Hagens Midsagittal Slices of a Male and Female Body © Gunther von Hagens,50 Institute for Plastination, Heidelberg, Germany, about reality, occasionally led to the after obtaining his medical degree, he joined the development of very willful and unusual ways of Department of Anesthesiology and Emergency working-but never in a manner that would have Medicine at Heidelberg University, where he harmed the collective of his seminary group. On came to a realization that his pensive mind was the contrary, his ways often encouraged his fellow unsuitable for the tedious routines demanded of students to critically review their own work." an anesthesiologist. In June 1975, he married Dr. While at the university, von Hagens began Cornelia von Hagens, a former classmate, and to question Communism and Socialism, and adopted her last name. The couple had three widened his knowledge of politics by gathering children, Rurik, Bera, and Tona. In 1975, while information from Western news sources. He later serving as a resident and lecturer-the start of an participated in student protests against the eighteen year career at the university's Institute of invasion of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact Pathology and Anatomy-von Hagens invented troops. In January, 1969, in the guise of a Plastination, his groundbreaking technology for vacationing student, von Hagens made his way preserving anatomical specimens with the use of across Bulgaria and Hungary, and on January 7th, reactive polymers. "I was looking at a collection of attempted to cross the Czechoslovakian border specimens embedded in plastic. It was the most into Austria and freedom. He failed, but made a advanced preservation technique then, where second attempt the very next day, at another the specimens rested deep inside a transparent location along the border. This time the authorities plastic block. I wondered why the plastic was detained him. "While I was in detention, a poured and then cured around the specimens sympathetic guard left a window open for me so rather than pushed into the cells, which would that I could escape. I hesitated and couldn't stabilize the specimens from within and literally make up my mind, and that decision cost me a allow you to grasp it." He patented the method great deal," he says. Gunther von Hagens was and over the next six years, von Hagens spent all arrested, extradited to East Germany, and his energies refining his invention. In Plastination, imprisoned for two years. Only 23 years old at the the first step is to halt decomposition. "The time, the iconoclastic von Hagens was viewed as deceased body is embalmed with a formalin a threat to the socialist way of life, and therefore injection to the arteries, while smaller specimens in need of rehabilitation and citizenship are immersed in formalin. After dissection, all education. According to the prison records for bodily fluids and soluble fat in the specimens are Gunther Liebchen, "The prisoner is to be trained to then extracted and replaced through vacuum- develop an appropriate class consciousness so forced impregnation with reactive resins and that in his future life, he will follow the standards elastomers such as silicon rubber and epoxy," he and regulations of our society. The prisoner is to says. After posing of the specimens for optimal be made aware of the dangerousness of his way teaching value, they are cured with light, heat, or of behaving, and in doing so, the prisoner's certain gases. The resulting specimens or conclusions of his future behavior as a citizen of plastinates assume rigidity and permanence. "I the social state need to be established." am still developing my invention further, even Thirty-six years after his incarceration, today, as it is not yet perfect," he says. During this Gunther von Hagens finds meaning and even time, von Hagens started his own company, redemption in his lost years. "The deep friendships BIODUR Products, to distribute the special I formed there with other prisoners, and the terrible polymers, equipment, and technology used for aspects of captivity that I was forced to Plastination to medical institutions around the overcome through my fantasy life, helped shape globe. Currently, more than 400 institutions in 40 my sense of solidarity with others, my reliance on countries worldwide use Gunther von Hagens' my own mind and body when denied freedom, invention to preserve anatomical specimens for and my capacity for endurance. All that I learned medical instruction. In 1983, Catholic Church in prison helped me later in my life as a scientist." figures asked Dr. von Hagens to plastinate the In 1970, after West Germany's purchase of his heel bone of St. Hildegard of Bingen, (1090-1179), freedom, von Hagens enrolled at the University of a beatified mystic, theologian, and writer revered Lubeck to complete his medical studies. Upon in Germany. His later offer to perform Plastination on Pope John Paul II foundered before serious graduation in 1973, he took up residency at a discussions. In 1992, von Hagens married Dr. hospital on Heligoland-a duty free island where Angelina Whalley, a physician who serves as his the access to cheap liquor resulted in a Business Manager as well as the designer of the substantial population of alcoholics. A year later, Body Worlds exhibitions. A year later, Dr. von 51

Gunter von Hagens

The Rearing Horse with Rider © Gunther von Hagens, Institute for Plastination, Heidelberg, Germany,

Hagens founded the Heidelberg-based Institute says, the burden he must bear as a public for Plastination, which offers plastinated anatomist and teacher. "The anatomist alone is specimens for educational use and for Body assigned a specific role-he is forced in his daily Worlds, which premiered in Japan in 1995. To work to reject the taboos and convictions that date, the exhibitions have been viewed bymore people have about death and the dead. I myself than 28 million people, in cities countries across am not controversial, but my exhibitions are, Europe, Asia, and North America. His continued because I am asking viewers to transcend their efforts to present the exhibitions, even in the face fundamental beliefs and convictions about our of opposition and often blistering attacks are, he joint and inescapable fate." 52

Gunter von Hagens The Bear © Gunther von Hagens, Institute for Plastination, Heidelberg, Germany,

Apparently determined to exhaust the limits of College of Dentistry. He is currently in the process living in freedom, Dr. von Hagens has made a of designing the first anatomy curriculum in the concerted effort to travel and propagate his United States that will use plastinated specimens interests around the globe. He accepted a visiting in lieu of dissection. professorship at Dalian Medical University in China Gunther von Hagens' Body Worlds exhibitions are in 1996, and became director of the Plastination currently showing in North America. "The human research center at the State Medical Academy in body is the last remaining nature in a man made Bishkek/Kyrgyzstan. In 2001, he founded a private environment," he says. "I hope for the exhibitions company, the Von Hagens Dalian Plastination to be places of enlightenment and Ltd., in Dalian, China, which currently employs a contemplation, even of philosophical and staff of 250. In 2004, Dr. von Hagens began a religious self recognition, and open to visiting professorship at the New York University interpretation regardless of the background and 53

philosophy of life of the viewer." cost 3.5 million Euro to produce; it would have cost substantially more to complete in Germany. Body Worlds was first presented in Tokyo in 1995. The exhibition has since been Body World 3 featured the plastinated hosted by more than 50 museums and body of a giraffe which took three years to venues in North America, Europe, and complete – ten times longer the length Asia. Aside from the huge controversy that usually required by the plastination of the the displays initially received, what do you human body. Why did it take so long and think audiences take home from their what were the challenges involved? visit? The challenge with the giraffe was that we BODY WORLDS has been presented in 60 cities on needed to understand the detailed anatomy of three continents since its world premiere in 1995. this animal, including every small muscle up to a The exhibitions encourage people to reflect upon level not yet described in scientific or even the fleeting nature of life, and the habits and teaching literature. We thus had to spend a lot of lifestyles which impinge on individual wellbeing time on documentation. Since the giraffe was and longevity. Comparative anatomy of healthy monumental, we required additional Plastination organs and those in distress or disease encourage hardware such as lifting devices and large cooled visitors to consider habits such as poor nutrition, dehydration and polymer impregnation unhealthy diets, smoking, and substance and containers. So we had to add the acquisition of alcohol consumption. this hardware to the manufacturing time of the first Our frequent polling and post-visit surveys giraffe we plastinated. Ultimately, the indicate 10% of visitors saying that they smoked manufacture of this first giraffe took us 15,000 less and consumed less alcohol after their visit to working hours. the exhibition, 33% following a healthier diet, 25% engaging in more sports activities, and 14% Why did you deice to have a giraffe in the becoming more aware of their body. show?

Almost 340 assistants work in five different As the high public interest into dinosaurs shows, laboratories around the world in order to the general public loves the gigantic aspect of create the plastinated bodies for the life on earth. The museum audience is always show. The one located in China keen on superlatives – the bigger, the better! They specializes in animal bodies. Are there want to be astonished. And a standing giraffe is specific issues involved with the handling the tallest animal on earth with a height of 5 of animal bodies that justify this work meters. Especially the 50 centimeters long tongue being carried in China, or is it simply a is absolutely fascinating. The giraffe can use it like coincidence? a hand and is able to grab leaves from the trees with it. Moreover, I believe, it is the most funny Between 1995 and 2007, I educated 83 Chinese animal on earth with its long legs and long neck, curators and medical doctors in dissection in but a ridiculous short body. Heidelberg, Germany. Thus, the main human resource for Plastination skills is Chinese. In In 2003, Body Worlds included the addition, the Chinese mentality results in a more plastinated body of a Gorilla which was careful, skillful and patient approach to the donated by Hanover Zoo (Germany) where specimens. Their dexterity and fine muscle the animal had died of natural causes. coordination which is fundamental for high quality Animal rights organization filed a results, is far superior compared to German skills. complaint alleging that key paperwork There are structures in the human body, such as allowing for the plastination of the body the nerve knot which regulates the blood pressure were missing and the case went to court. (glomus caroticus) that are routinely dissected in Eventually you won the case and the China in anatomy classes, whereas in Germany animal was re-instated in the show. Why this is considered an impossible task. do you think animal rights activist The plastination of large animals is a huge intervened? Do you receive much undertaking and China offers the most financially resistance from animal rights activists with viable means to do so. The elephant “Samba” \ regards to the inclusion of animal bodies in your shows?

Gunter von Hagens The Giraffe © Gunther von Hagens, Institute for Plastination, Heidelberg, Germany,

Because the reported complaint was based on What are the main differences involved in unfounded suspicion, the court dismissed the the plastination of animal bodies and case. Since the Gorilla complaint, we have not human bodies? faced noticeable opposition from animal right groups. It is now more widely understood that we The art of mastering the Plastination do not kill animals for Plastination, but that we technology is to avoid shrinkage. At best, the acquire already deceased animals from zoos tissue swells rather than shrinking. A special and others. By introducing plastinated animals in challenge is to permeate the dense connective teaching classes, we reduce the need for live tissue which encases muscles and organs as so animal dissections in bio-labs. Plastination is called fascias which secure the shape of muscles increasingly viewed as a method which supports and organs just as the so-called general the aims of animal protection groups rather than superficial body fasciae adds to the shape of the doing harm to the animals. whole body. The connective tissue as a whole is 55

therefore also called “the organ of body shape”. Most people are fascinated and even thankful as No doubt that the fascias in large animals such as we can see from their comments in our visitor´s horses, giraffes or elephants is much denser and books. Also students, professors, veterinarians and therefore more difficult to be impregnated with taxidermists find that the exhibition conveys 3D- polymer during vacuum forced impregnation. The anatomical knowledge that can never be shown readiness of shrinkage is much higher compared in 2D, whether in books or on TV. The large to human tissue. The denser connective tissue of transparent slices of large animals such as a large animals is the reason why the plastination horizontal slice through an adult elephant reveals process (acetone dehydration, defatting and interesting facts such as the position of the ovaries polymer impregnation) takes two to three times as never seen before, Those views support the longer than in human specimens. The sheer appreciation of efforts to care for protected volume of large animal tissue poses another endangered animals. problem which is overcome by cutting the muscles into stripes of 5 cm thickness which then One of the main ethical concerns have to be fused again before curing. Achieving revolving around the staging of human proper curing of the silicone polymers of bodies in Body World is that the bodies in cancerogeneous tissue poses another problem in questions are donated by their owners Plastination, because such tissue acts within the through the signing of documents prior to polymer simply as an impurity which retards or their deaths. How is this issue resolved in prevents proper curing. Animals rarely dye from the use of animal bodies? cancer. Therefore this problem does mainly arise in human tissue. The amount of tissue fat also has The animals on display all died of natural causes. to be taken into consideration. The relative They are donations from national and amount of fat within the bones, for example, is international zoos and animal parks as well as much less in large animals where bones contain from private persons who in the majority like to much more inorganic strengthening material such remain anonymous. Others agree with the as calcium. Because of this hardness, the sawing publication of the origin of the animals, such as of plastinated sheets from large animals requires the Hanover Zoo that donated gorilla "Artis" or the special bandsaw blades and proves especially Zoo Neunkirchen that donated the two elephants tricky. "Samba" and "Chiana" and a giraffe to the The experienced plastinator takes those Institute for Plastination. The Institute is dependent and other differences into account and will on animal donations and always interested in always achieve superior results over those who do future donations. not care about the differences. This is actually the reason why specimens in copycat exhibitions In presenting the human body you have often look so much inferior in quality. gone as far as staging different mundane occurrences involving sportsmen and Body World of Animals has recently lovers. How is the animal body presented opened at Neunkirchen Zoo, Germany. Is in your new exhibition? this exhibition, like the original Body Worlds going to tour the world, and is it going to All animals are presented in natural and true-to- be directly associated with zoos? life positions. Some of them like elephant “Samba” or the giraffe are expanded so that the The world premiere of our Body Worlds of Animals viewer can see the physiology of these giants in the zoo of Neunkirchen/Germany was a huge better. This is done without the sacrifice of having success, with more than117,000 visitors in 90 to take parts away since in plastinated days. We will be presenting this exhibition in zoos specimens, hardened soft tissue such as muscles and natural history and scientific museums can take over holding function, Other animals are around the world. presented in thin sagittal slices.

You claim that the show “will increase Can plastination be applied to insects appreciation for animals, especially and plants? endangered species, and remind us all of our obligation to animal welfare.” How Insects and plants are already being plastinated, have audiences reacted to the show so predominately as slices, because the scientific far? benefit of plastinated plant and insect slices is

Gunter von Hagens

naturally higher than to just preserve the insects and plants as a whole.

Gunther Liebchen was born in a Jewish family in Poznan, Poland. A haemophiliac, he grew up in East Germany and as a child spent six months in hospital after cutting himself. This stimulated an interest in medicine, and in 1965 he commenced studies in medicine at the University of Jena. He was arrested after political protests and an attempt to escape to West Germany. West Germany bought his freedom in 1970 and he continued his medical studies in Lübeck, and received a doctorate in 1975 from the University of Heidelberg. There he would work at the Institutes of Anatomy and Pathology as a lecturer for twenty years.

Gunther von Hagens was interviewed by Antennae in Summer 2010 Antennae