Press kit Address BODY WORLDS: The Happiness Project Damrak 66 1012 LM www.bodyworlds.nl/en Press contact Anouk Koopmans T. +31(0)20 5300 925 / +31(0)6 2353 5692 E. [email protected] Image gallery Amsterdam – In the BODY WORLDS image gallery you’ll find a selection of high resolution images of the BODY WORLDS: The Happiness Project exhibition. All images are free of rights, on the conditions that the right credits are mentioned. You can find the right credits under each photo. Image gallery: www.flickr.com/photos/bodyworldsnl General – In the BODY WORLDS image gallery , you’ll find a selection of high resolution images available for download. Note: the following credits must be provided with each image: © Gunther von Hagens, Institute for Plastination, Heidelberg, Germany, www.bodyworlds.nl. Image gallery: www.bodyworlds.com/en/media/picture_database.html www.facebook.com/bodyworldsnl plus.google.com/+BodyworldsNl twitter.com/bodyworldsams instagram.com/bodyworldsnl www.linkedin.com/company/body- youtube.com/user/bodyworldsamsterdam worlds-amsterdam www.pinterest.com/bodyworlds www.flickr.com/photos/bodyworldsnl Content 1. BODY WORLDS: The Happiness Project 4 2. Search for Happiness 5 3. Purpose 6 4. What is Plastination? 7 5. Preservation by plastination 8 6. Body Donation for plastination 10 6.1. Motives Body Donation 11 7. Dr. Gunther von Hagens 12 7.1. His childhood 12 7.2. Education 13 7.3. Solitary confinement 13 7.4. Invention Plastination 14 7.5. Plastination to development 15 8. Dr. Angelina Whalley 16 8.1. Comparative anatomy 17 9. Different BODY WORLDS exhibitions 18 10. Facts and Figures 20 11. Permanent activities 21 12. Schools 22 13. Frequently asked questions 23 BODY WORLDS: The Happiness Project - Damrak 66, 1012 LM Amsterdam 3 1. BODY WORLDS: The Happiness Project On Thursday, August 16th 2014, BODY WORLDS: The Happiness Project opened its permanent exhibition in the centre of Amsterdam. BODY WORLDS tells the story of the human body and the influence that the emotional phenomenon of ‘happiness’ has on our health. Over 200 anatomical specimens of real human bodies reveal the complexity, resilience and vulnerability of the body. In addition to organ functions, common diseases are described in an easy-to-understand way by comparing healthy and affected organs. They show the long-term impact of diseases and addictions, such as tobacco or alcohol consumption, and demonstrate the mechanics of artificial knee and hip joints. The specimens on display were preserved through Plastination, the preservation process invented by Dr. Von Hagens in 1977, while he was working as an anatomist at the University of Heidelberg. BODY WORLDS: The Happiness Project - Damrak 66, 1012 LM Amsterdam 4 2. Search for Happiness Happiness is an elusive feeling that many are searching for. The fact that there is a direct link between happiness, health and well-being has been proven by major medical studies. In BODY WORLDS: The Happiness Project, these fundamental principles of happiness are examined through the lens of anatomy. Visitors learn for example that people who are happy, live longer than people who are unhappy. That is good news in a country whose population has been one of the happiest in the world. Recent studies by the World Health Organization (WHO) even show that the Dutch youth is the happiest in the western world. Angelina Whalley, creative and conceptual designer of the BODY WORLDS exhibitions, has been immersing herself in the phenomenon ‘Happiness’ for a decade. ‘‘Many define it as a butterfly that is beyond our grasp, but more and more research is showing that we can catch it,” she said. Our happiness depends on genes, circumstances, and action. About 50% of our happiness, according to social scientists, depends on our genetic makeup. Each person is born with the ability to achieve happiness. The happiness marker or ‘set point’ , the natural level of happiness to which each person returns even after failures and triumphs, varies from person to person. Of the remainder, 10% of our happiness can result from our circumstances in life, such as financial, physical, social, and marital conditions and realities. The rest is within our control. A stunning 40% of our happiness can be achieved through our own actions. In the exhibition you will learn how you can improve your level of happiness. BODY WORLDS: The Happiness Project - Damrak 66, 1012 LM Amsterdam 5 3. Purpose The primary purpose of the exhibition is to give information about health. BODY WORLDS informs the visitors about anatomy, physiology and health by displaying real human bodies. The anatomy exhibition appeals to a wide audience and will give visitors an insight into different aspects of the human body: the functions, the development, the influence of disease, the effects of poor health, good health and lifestyle choices. People are more willing to live a healthy life if they understand how their body functions and when they see what harms their body. BODY WORLDS aims to encourage visitors to show more interest in medical and related sciences. Knowledge of the characteristics and functioning of the human body should be accessible to a wide audience. The BODY WORLDS exhibitions has irrevocably changed the traditional field of anatomy and its audience. The BODY WORLDS exhibitions provide access to the plastination technique for the general public. This domain that was previously focused only on medical institutions and universities. BODY WORLDS: The Happiness Project - Damrak 66, 1012 LM Amsterdam 6 4. What is plastination? Plastination was invented by Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977, physician and scientist. Plastination is a pioneering preservation method that makes it possible to stop the decay of the dead body and produce anatomical specimens for scientific research and medical training that are sustainable in the long term. During the Plastination process all body fluids and soluble fats will be extracted from the specimen. During the next step (vacuum-forced impregnation), the body fluids are replaced by reactive plastics, such as silicone rubber. Subsequently, the specimen is cured using light, heat or certain gases. In this way solid, odorless and durable preparations arise, which are exhibited in an aesthetic way. The final specimen or plastinates are rigid and sustainable. BODY WORLDS: The Happiness Project - Damrak 66, 1012 LM Amsterdam 7 5. Preservation by plastination 1. Embalming and Anatomical Dissection The first step of the process involves halting decay by pumping formalin into the body through the arteries. Formalin kills all bacteria and chemically stops the decay of tissue. Using dissection tools, the skin, fatty and connective tissues are removed in order to prepare the individual anatomical structures. 2. Removal of Body Fat and Water In the first step, the body water and soluble fats are dissolved from the body by placing it into a solvent bath (e.g., an acetone bath). 3. Forced Impregnation This second exchange process is the central step in Plastination. During forced impregnation a reactive polymer, e.g., silicone rubber, replaces the acetone. To achieve this, the specimen is immersed in a polymer solution and placed in vacuum chamber. The vacuum removes the acetone from the specimen and helps the polymer to penetrate every last cell. 4. Positioning After vacuum impregnation, the body is positioned as desired. Every single anatomical structure is properly aligned and fixed with the help of wires, needles, clamps, and foam blocks. 5. Curing (Hardening) In the final step, the specimen is hardened. Depending on the polymer used, this is done with gas, light, or heat. Dissection and Plastination of an entire body requires about 1,500 working hours and normally takes about one year to complete. BODY WORLDS: The Happiness Project - Damrak 66, 1012 LM Amsterdam 8 BODY WORLDS: The Happiness Project - Damrak 66, 1012 LM Amsterdam 9 6. Body donation for plastination The BODY WORLDS exhibitions are based on an established body donation program. Body donors specifically request that their bodies may be used in a public exhibition after their deaths. The body donor for Plastination is a testament that can be revoked at any time. In accordance with the agreement of body donors we give no information about the identity and cause of death of the donor. At the exhibitions the bodies themselves are the focus, not the associated personal information. Excluding a small number of specimens acquired from anatomical collections and anatomy programs, the plastinated specimens on display in Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS exhibitions stem from a unique body donation program established in Heidelberg, Germany in 1982, and later managed by the Institute for Plastination (IfP) in Heidelberg, established in 1993. Only some organs, fetuses and specific specimens that show unusual conditions come from old anatomical collections and morphological institutes In august 2016, the Institute for Plasination had a donor roster of over 14.000 individuals, including 60 with a Dutch nationality. Count Men Women Worldwide 14.436 6.266 8.170 Europe 13.090 5.858 7.232 North & South America and Canada 1.346 408 938 Netherlands 57 26 31 Belgium 77 29 48 Germany 12.421 5.562 6.859 Deceased 1.789 1.033 756 In August 2016, the Institute for Plastination registered 14.436 body donors. BODY WORLDS: The Happiness Project - Damrak 66, 1012 LM Amsterdam 10 Age Count < 20 0.2% 21 - 30 3% 31 - 40 7% 41 - 50 14% 51 - 60 25% > 60 51% The average age of body donors is 65 years. 6.1 Motives Body Donation Many donors attach value to being useful in this way for other people. Their selfless donations allow us to gain unique insights into the human body. So far these insights were only reserved for doctors. Donors have different motives to take part in the donor program.