Dr Gunther von Hagens, the controversial scientist who invented plastination and created the Body Worlds exhibitions, has died aged 81. His body is set to be preserved and displayed according to his final wish.
Inventor of plastination passes away
Von Hagens developed the plastination process in 1977, which preserves body parts or entire anatomies by replacing water and fat with plastics like silicone or epoxy resin. After a long battle with Parkinson's disease, he died on July 24. The German's institute confirmed his death on Monday via a statement.
“It is with deep sadness that the family and the Institute for Plastination announce the passing of Dr Gunther von Hagens, inventor of plastination and creator of the Body Worlds exhibitions,” it read.
Final wish to be carried out
The 'mad' scientist, who was dubbed 'Doctor Death', frequently told the media how he wanted his body to be preserved after death. “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,” he told the Guardian in 2018.
His family confirmed in a statement that his body will be preserved. “It was Gunther von Hagens' own wish to make his body available for plastination after his death. His family will respect and carry out this wish,” they said.
Wife's role in preservation
In 2018, von Hagens' wife Dr Angelina Whalley, also an anatomist, said he requested she personally treat his body when he passes. She said: “He said to me, ‘Angelina, you are entitled to freeze me down to -25C for one year, but after that time you really need to put your hands on me because otherwise I will get freeze burn.’ So I have one year for mourning and then I will have to do it.”
She added: “Of course, in the very beginning I thought, Gunther, you are kidding me! This is something I would never be able to do.” But she came to realise she would be “finalising his life's work”. “I understand now that it's more an appreciation and an expression of love for me to do it,” she told the Observer.
He said he would prefer his body to be fixed in a welcoming pose near the entrance of exhibitions, which have more than 47 million visitors globally.
