Gunther von Hagens, Creator of Body Worlds, Passes Away at 81

Gunter von Hagens: The Life and Legacy of an Anatomist

Gunther von Hagens, known for his innovative technique of plastination and the creation of the Body Worlds exhibitions, passed away at the age of 81 on July 24, 2023. Born Gunther Gerhard Liebchen in January 1945 during the German occupation of Alt-Skalden (now Skalmierzyce), Poland, von Hagens grew up in socialist East Germany and later moved to West Germany, where he adopted the noble name von Hagens and met his first wife, Cornelia.

In 1977, while working as a research scientist at the University of Heidelberg’s institute of pathology and anatomy, von Hagens developed plastination. This method involves extracting bodily fluids and soluble fat from dead bodies and replacing them with resins, silicon rubbers, and epoxies, enabling lifelike displays. The technique allowed him to preserve entire bodies in rigid states, which could be displayed in various poses.

Controversial Exhibits

Von Hagens' Body Worlds exhibitions became global sensations, attracting more than 50 million visitors worldwide from 1995 onwards. The exhibits included bodies posed in various activities, sliced to reveal internal organs, and even a controversial series of foetal specimens at different stages of gestation. These displays aimed to democratise anatomy but faced criticism for their titillating nature.

The anatomist's Plastinarium museum in Guben, Germany, confirmed that von Hagens' body would be plastinated as per his long-standing wish. A spokesperson from the museum stated, 'The anatomist’s body will definitely be plastinated, as this was always a long-held wish of his,' though the exact location for its display had yet to be determined.

Personal Background and Early Life

Von Hagens was born in January 1945 during the German occupation. He grew up in socialist East Germany and participated in protests against the violent Soviet suppression of the Prague Spring in 1968. The following year, von Hagens was imprisoned after attempting to flee into the west. In 1970, West Germany paid 40,000 deutschmarks for him to be released from custody as a political prisoner.

After his release, he met and married Cornelia von Hagens in the western part of Germany, adopting her name and its connotations of nobility. In 1977, while working at Heidelberg University, von Hagens came up with his technique for preserving bodies, driven by a desire to democratise anatomy and shatter taboos around death.

Plastination Legacy

Von Hagens frequently expressed his desire to be displayed after death. In an interview with The Guardian in 2018, he wrote, 'I could envisage my plastinated body standing in a welcoming pose at the entrance of an exhibition, or rendered into slices and distributed across various sites.' His legacy is marked by both praise for advancing anatomical education and criticism due to the controversial nature of his exhibits.

Final Wishes and Impact

Von Hagens was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2008, which affected his motor skills and speech. After suffering a cerebral haemorrhage on July 23, he passed away the following day at a hospital in Heidelberg. His condition left him questioning the existence of an afterlife, as he wrote in 2018: 'Sometimes, at this stage of my life and illness, I wish I could suspend my convictions and embrace the idea of a divinity and an afterlife. But I don’t think there is a continuum beyond death. Every deceased body I have seen has shown me the absence of the soul.' However, he remained committed to his work until the end, insisting that the bodies displayed in his shows belonged to people who had authorised the use of their bodies for educational benefit.

Von Hagens' public persona was often described as a cross between an evil scientist and a ghoulish murder-scene pathologist. Despite this controversial image, he dedicated himself to advancing anatomical education through his innovative techniques and global exhibitions.