A fascinating exhibition, but not for everyone (Body Worlds)

Member Name: pixis77

Product:	Body Worlds
Date:	09/08/09 (156 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Educational, & humbling experience

Disadvantages: The idiot factor

Yesterday, my flatmate and I decided to visit the latest Body Worlds (BW) exhibition, the Mirror of Time, at London's O2 Arena. BW sells itself as a lesson in anatomy using real bodies. It consists of 200 specimens, ranging from full bodies, body parts, and a few animal bodies thrown in for good measure. Now... I am a fairly squeamish person - let there be no BONES about it (Sorry, I couldn't resist!). I was, however, lured by the 2-for-1 deal currently available on the exhibition's website. For adults, tickets are ordinarily priced at £14 on the weekends, and £12 on weekdays, with concessions available for children, students, seniors, and groups. With the 2-for-1 deal, we paid the grand total of £14 for both of us. Bargain!

The creator of BW, Dr Gunther von Hagens, is the mastermind of a body preservation technique called "plastination". According to the website, plastination involves draining the body of fat and fluids to prevent decomposition. Ick! From what I gather, the body is then filled with liquid plastic, which hardens and facilitates permanence. Anyway, von Hagens decided that plastination would be the perfect vehicle for educating people about the anatomy of the body. Call me cynical, but I have a feeling that von Hagens also saw this as an excellent opportunity to generate an endless flow of cash, and a method for plastinating his credit card collection!

Arriving at the O2, I insisted that we eat some lunch. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I had a feeling I wouldn't want to eat afterwards. When you book your ticket, you'll receive a pre-specified time for showing up at the exhibition. In our case, our tickets told us to be there at 1pm, but we were half an hour late as we lost track of time whilst noshing on our burgers. Woops. Thankfully, this wasn't a problem. There was no queue, and we were ushered in the direction of a dark opening, towards the exhibition.

Upon entering, a plaque told us that the bodies and body parts contained within are used with the permission of their former owners. The first thing that struck me was the black decor everywhere. Black floors, black walls, black materials upon which the exhibits rested. Four large video screens at the entrance display people morphing from youth through to old age, Indeed, the focus of the Mirror of Time is on the life cycle, and the ageing process.

Instead of describing everything in the exhibition, I am going to describe a few of the most memorable (for me) exhibits. Please be aware that some people may find the material on display to be upsetting. I should also note that each exhibit is positioned near a plaque describing first, what it is, and second, some basic anatomical blurb.

The start of the exhibition features five glass cylinders, each of which contain a tiny embryo at various stages of development. This part of the exhibition has attracted a lot of controversy, I think primarily because it is unclear exactly how they ended up there... an embryo is not capable of giving consent. What I will say though, is that the atmosphere was very, very respectful, and there was the most complete silence. I found being in the presence of these tiny little angels (can't think of a better word for them really) to be very, very humbling. In fact, since leaving the exhibition, I cannot get out of my mind their tiny hands, and peaceful looking expressions. I didn't expect to be moved by BW, but I was instantly affected, right from the moment I saw those cylinders.

Another memorable exhibit, showed a woman kneeling, raising her open palms, upon which perched two birds, about to take flight. If my memory serves me correctly, it was called 'Phoenix rising from the Ashes'. I was moved by the accompanying blurb, which stated that ultimately as human beings, we fail to rise from the ashes (i.e. we die), but we can continue through our children - symbolised by the birds.

The bodies in the exhibit are displayed in various poses, with sections of the body opened or peeled back in order to provide the viewer with a glimpse of the anatomy underneath. It was really quite an eye-opener to see. I have only a basic understanding of biology and anatomy, so I found it incredibly interesting. With each exhibit, I was more and more astounded at the complexity of the human body. This might sound a bit strange, but I was surprised at how much the human body resembles a tree, in that it consists of lots of lots of tiny nerves that seem to grow outwards from the spine. It was stunning to see!

Surprisingly, I didn't feel as nauseated as I thought I would. The only time I felt slightly sick, was whilst looking at a man who was holding his entire skin from head to toe, in his right hand (shown in the dooyoo product photo). I could have sworn that I saw three hairs poking out from it, and I quickly moved away!

The penultimate room contains the sex and reproductive exhibits, and this room is for over-16s only. Not to go into too much description, but suffice to say that there were two bodies in a very compromising position. At this point, I will let you know that the use of cameras or mobile phones is banned. I say this because as I moved around this particular exhibit, a huge flash signified the presence of an idiot who had positioned himself before the "bits" as it were. He was quickly taken to the side, and ushered from the room. A day out wouldn't be quite the same without at least one idiot showing up somewhere!

It took us 45 minutes to walk from the start of the exhibit to the end. However, if you want to browse for longer, there is no limit to the amount of time you can spend in there. Upon reaching the end, we were given a life certificate which states: 'In recognition of resolve and commitment to embrace a healthy lifestyle, I accept physical and intellectual challenges, strive for fellowship and aim to live a purposeful live in longevity'. In the spirit of this, we headed straight to the pub for a drink afterwards!

BW was quite an experience. I can honestly say that I feel it has affected me on a deep level. The atmosphere in there felt sacred, if that makes sense. Hushed, quiet, and intimate - other than the man with the camera of course! BW is not for everyone. I can imagine it could be very upsetting for some, particular the embryo (and baby) exhibits. Did BW live up to its promise as an educational experience? Yes, I think it did. It has enlightened me to the complexity of the human body. Heck, we are wandering around in these things every day! It's very interesting to take a look at what's going on inside! Well worth the price!

Body Worlds & the Mirror of Time is at the O2 Arena until the 23rd August 2009. Wheelchair access available.

http://www.visitlondon.com/bodyworlds/

Summary: A fascinating journey through the life-cycle, using real bodies -- well worth the price!