I see dead people: Preserved human bodies heading to Brisbane

The acrobat is bent over backwards in a “bridge” pose: her back arching, one leg resting on the other. Her skin has been removed so the muscles are clearly visible.

She is quite dead.

This is one of the human specimens in an exhibition of human bodies that will open at Brisbane’s Uptown, formerly the Myer Centre, in June.

One of the exhibits in the Body Worlds: The Anatomy of Happiness show. Credit: K.W. Koein

Body Worlds: The Anatomy of Happiness, featuring a large number of cadavers preserved through a “plastination” process, will present “a unique exploration of the human body, emotions, and what it means to live a healthy and fulfilling life”.

The brainchild of German anatomist Dr Gunther von Hagens, Body Worlds exhibitions have been seen by more than 56 million visitors in 170 cities since 1995.

Human and animal corpses are displayed in various poses – both intact and in states of dissection – as well as in elaborate displays of separate organs.

While some will find the exhibition macabre, organisers say it’s suitable for all ages.Credit: David Trood

While not for the faint-hearted, the exhibitions emphasise their educational nature.

“People can learn about anatomy, disease and mental health,” curator Dr Angelina Whalley said.

“What it uncovers is truly fascinating – and we’ve seen visitors around the world leave with a new motivation to live more consciously.”

However, the exhibitions have generated considerable controversy, raising questions of consent and how the remains were obtained.

The cadavers used in Body Worlds are sourced through a donor program. However, in 2004, it was reported that von Hagens returned seven corpses to China because they showed evidence of belonging to executed prisoners.

In response to inquiries, Selen Tamer Lakay, managing director at Selen Tamer Lakay, managing director of Muse Marketing and Entertainment, said Body Worlds: The Anatomy of Happiness adhered to “all regulatory requirements and standards of practice in Australia”.

“Body Worlds exhibitions are based on an established body donation program through which the body donors specifically request that their bodies be used in a public exhibition after their deaths,” she said.

“Currently, there are more than 23,000 donors, including 14 Australian citizens, registered in the body donation program.”

The success of Body Worlds prompted copycat exhibitions, such as the Real Bodies exhibit, which raised concerns when it visited Sydney in 2018.

Von Hagens, 80, created his plastination process in the late 1970s.

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, he has expressed the desire to be plastinated after his death to become part of his own exhibition.

Body Worlds: The Anatomy of Happiness opens on Thursday, June 12 and tickets are on sale now.

The event website says the experience is suitable for all ages, but that “certain artworks and installations reflect contemporary topics and current events so may resonate more with a mature audience”.

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