Body Worlds Founder Gunther von Hagens Dies at 81

Gunther von Hagens, the controversial German anatomist and creator of the "Body Worlds" exhibition, has died at the age of 81. Von Hagens gained international notoriety for his pioneering plastination technique, a method he developed in the 1970s to preserve human and animal bodies for educational and exhibition purposes.

His "Body Worlds" exhibitions, which have toured globally and been seen by millions, display plastinated corpses in various everyday situations, including playing sports and even engaging in sexual acts. These provocative displays aimed to educate the public about human anatomy and encourage a deeper understanding of the body.

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He made millions of people see their own bodies with different eyes.

However, the exhibitions frequently drew criticism, with opponents arguing that they violated human dignity. In Berlin, authorities attempted to legally block the opening of a permanent "Body Worlds" museum, contending that the plastinated bodies were still corpses and should be buried.

Von Hagens' wife, Angelina Whalley, stated that his intention was never sensationalism but rather science, enlightenment, and humanism. She asserted that he inspired millions to view their own bodies differently. Von Hagens, born Gunther Liebchen in 1945, had been living with Parkinson's disease for several years. In accordance with his wishes, his own body will also be plastinated after his death.

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It was Gunther von Hagens' own wish to also make his body available for plastination after death. His relatives will respect and fulfill this wish.