Gunther von Hagens turns 80
The creator of “Body Worlds” sees life as a major exception
Gunther von Hagens became known worldwide with his “Body Worlds” exhibitions. Now the doctor is turning 80. How coming to terms with death has changed his view of life.
The “Body Worlds” exhibitions show people playing chess, doing sports or having sex, among other things. To date, according to the organizers, the preserved corpses have been admired by more than 56 million people worldwide – and have repeatedly attracted criticism. “That’s a good thing,” says exhibition organizer and inventor of so-called plastination Gunther von Hagens, who will be 80 years old on January 10th.
“Controversies are a sign that my work touches people, makes them think and triggers discussions – that was exactly my goal from the start,” the doctor told the German Press Agency. He takes objective criticism very seriously, for example when it comes to the dignity of plastinates. The debate motivated him to make the entire process – from body donation to presentation in the exhibition – as transparent and respectful as possible.
During plastination, the body or parts of it are stabilized from the inside using a preservation method. This allows muscles, bones and internal organs to be made odorless and dry and visible to the viewer. Von Hagens developed and patented the method. The exhibition debuted in Tokyo in 1995 and has been shown dozens of times in 42 countries to date.
“The confrontation with human transience has deeply influenced my view of life,” said von Hagens. “When you see death not just as the end, but also as a part of life, the focus shifts: you begin to appreciate the value of the moment more and live more consciously.” The older he gets, the more he sees life as a great exception and death as normal. “Ultimately, it is transience that gives life meaning.”
Son has taken over management
Von Hagens has Parkinson’s disease and has therefore largely withdrawn from the business. He is very grateful to his son Rurik and his wife Angelina Whalley for continuing to run the company and the exhibitions with passion. He learned to deal with the illness and adapt his everyday life accordingly. “Above all, this includes avoiding stress, as it accelerates the disease process.” Von Hagens lives mainly in Heidelberg, where he wants to celebrate his 80th birthday with a small family circle.
In Germany, the “Body Worlds” exhibition can be seen this year in Hanover, Magdeburg and Munich. There are permanent exhibitions in Berlin, Heidelberg and Guben.
dpa
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
