Plastination Pioneer Gunther von Hagens Dies at 81

Gunther von Hagens, the controversial anatomist known for his "Body Worlds" exhibitions and the development of plastination, died Friday at the age of 81. His family announced his death in Heidelberg, Germany, confirming that his own body will be plastinated as per his wishes.

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Now I am braver. My father is still very vital at 98, he is my role model. If I am good, I will last until 90.

Von Hagens developed the groundbreaking plastination technique in the 1970s, a method that replaces bodily fluids with plastics to preserve specimens indefinitely. He founded the Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg in 1993. His "Body Worlds" exhibitions, which display plastinated human bodies and organs, have drawn millions of visitors worldwide, aiming to provide an unprecedented look at human anatomy and foster a deeper understanding of health, life, and mortality.

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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.

Despite the public's fascination, von Hagens' work consistently courted controversy. Critics often questioned the ethics of using human remains for public display, while supporters lauded his efforts to demystify anatomy and encourage a more conscious approach to health. Von Hagens himself viewed his work as a way to confront the transience of human existence, stating that the contemplation of mortality gave life its meaning.

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The confrontation with human transience had a formative influence on his life. The older I get, the more I feel that life is a great exception and death is the norm. Ultimately, it is transience that gives life meaning at all.

In his later years, von Hagens largely withdrew from public life due to Parkinson's disease, which significantly impacted his speech. His wife, Angelina Whalley, who also served as his translator, and his son Rurik, have continued his work. Whalley stated that von Hagens' lifelong mission was to allow people to see beneath the skin, not for sensationalism, but from a conviction that knowledge of the body leads to a healthier and more responsible life. His son added that his father consistently challenged perceived limits, bringing anatomy out of specialized circles and into the public sphere.

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Gunther wanted to give people a look under the skin – not out of sensationalism, but out of the deep conviction that knowledge about one's own body can contribute to a more conscious, healthier, and more responsible life.