Peculiar corpses: "
Incorruptibles remaining free of decomposition have baffled scientists to this day. These bodies are discovered in many different environments, including environments that would typically cause an accidental or deliberately preserved corpse to decompose rapidly." The photographed examples seem to all be associated with Christian faith. Hmm. "[At Oratorio di San Lorenzo] in Palermo, however, corpses are treated as characters in a play":
The Museum of the Dead, reassuringly less preserved.
posted by nthdegx
on May 30, 2008 -
67 comments
Body Worlds is an art exhibition that toured Europe from 2001-2003. Retooled for 'aught five, it has made its way to the New World for stays in Philadelphia and Toronto. The brainchild of
Gunther von Hagens, a German anatomist, progenitor and patentee of the
plastination technique of preservation, Body Worlds features actual human corpses: plastinated, dissected and posed. Nutjob? Artist?
Criminal? von Hagens says his aims are primarily
educational. Slate has an informative
sideshow about the current exhibit, its origins and predecessors.
Criticisms of this work run the gamut from
predictable outrage to
marxist.
But if you're interested, you can
request plastination services, or go to the man himself and
donate your body(cool downloadable brochure on this page).
And, of course, what would a good exhibition be without a
shop?
Previously discussed, the first time around, here, here, here,and here. Similar exhibit in San Francisco this past summer called "The Universe Within". Plastination is also apparently a musical phenomenon.
posted by kosem
on Nov 4, 2005 -
69 comments
