I went to see this fella (and others) yesterday:
This is the fella that plastinated him:
This is where I went to see the exhibits:
Dr. Gunther Von Hagens "controversial" exhibition comes to Manchester!
On a beautiful, sunny day in Manchester, I chose to spend a couple of hours in a windowless room, with some corpses.
The exhibition starts off with small stuff (quite literally. Ear-bones. The smallest bones in the human body) and explanations of the plastination process that is used to preserve the bodies for us to gawp at.
Just round the corner however, the stuff that you really came to see is displayed.
Once you get over the initial shock of being confronted with an actual, flayed, sliced, de-boned ex-human being, the natural "urgh" instinct quickly disappears and is replaced with fascination.
This is not like looking at a road-accident. But it is in the same ballpark (initially). There is a feeling of "forbidden knowledge" and a tiny urge to look away and think pleasant thoughts. These feelings are soon forgotten though and replaced with awe.
We for the most part, take our bodies for granted, but just beneath our skin, there is an amazing, wonderful, intricate machine silently working away without us even noticing.
Of all the bodies, the "exploded-views" are the most interesting. One specimen is split in so many directions, the weird spectacle can only be described as a human-spider!
There are also a series of bodies that have been sliced length-ways and breadth-ways. These cross-sections are really cool and you really get a good look at the intricate detail that makes us tick.
All the "whole" bodies on display are arranged in naturalistic poses. This is a touch of genius. It helps the viewer relate more to the displays and you can see how the muscles etc react and stretch when at rest or play.
When I first entered the exhibition, I was in quite a jokey mood. This was soon replaced by fascination and towards the end of the show, I was in a more sombre mood.
The reason for this change in mood was a visit to what I can only describe as "The Foetus Room".
It is discretely curtained off, and people can make up their own minds whether or not to enter.
I was genuinely shocked. Not by the foetuses themselves, but by how developed they were at only a few weeks. I had previously only thought of early pregnancy as being not much more than a cluster of cells. I was wrong.
I see now why anti-abortion is such a hot topic among certain groups. I never really gave it much thought before, what with being a bloke and all that.
I was actually educated by my visit. This I had not expected. I had thought the show would be similar to looking at a road accident. In fact it is so much more.
The whole exhibition is very informative and educational and I urge anyone who is not too squeamish (and lives near Manchester) to go along. I loved it!
The show finishes at the end of June, so you best get a wriggle on if you don't want to miss out.
I seem to remember a fair-few cities turned down the opportunity to show the good doctor's labour of love. More fool them! At least the powers-that-be in Manchester saw sense.
Don't forget to visit the gift shop on the way out!
The whole exhibition is given the DVD treatment and a very comprehensive book is available that looks at all the exhibits and more besides. It also delves in to the history, the process and the controversy surrounding Dr. Von Hagens' revolutionary displays. A compelling read methinks!
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