THE MOST AMAZING show on earth is in San Jose right now
http://www.bodyworlds.com/ is in town – relatively speaking – now through the end of January at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose.
I saw it in LA and have friends that have been multiple times, you never get bored, actually you need to see it more than once to really take it all in. Typically when it comes to a new city the attendance picks up as word spreads so the longer you leave it the more crowed it will become because it’s beyond fascinating.
From the Web Site: The Institute for Plastination (IfP)
The IfP is a private research institute, located in Heidelberg, which focuses on the development and progression of Plastination. Plastination is the method of polymer impregnation, which preserves anatomical specimens as permanent, life-like, and aesthetic materials for instruction and scientific research. The specimens are dry, odorless, retain their natural surface structure, and remain accessible for virtually an unlimited amount of time. These characteristics lend to the specimens inestimable value both for training doctors and medical students as well as the general public about medicine and health.
The aim of the Institute for Plastination (IfP) is to produce human specimens and make them available both for basic and continuing medical training of doctors as well as for the general medical education of the public. The specimens are prepared solely for this purpose and only passed on directly to recognized educational and research establishments and scientific museums, but not to private individuals or outside suppliers.
In addition, the IfP coordinates the traveling BODY WORLDS exhibitions. Each BODY WORLDS exhibition displays approximately 200 authentic plastinated human specimens and 25 aesthetically posed whole-body plastinates. The exhibition is structured in such a way that visitors can experience it much as they would a three dimensional textbook: visitors are able to see exactly how their own bodies are constructed as they tour the exhibition. There are also specimens that show the effects of disease such as a heart attack or cancer. The anatomical specimens on display in the BODY WORLDS exhibition stem from our body donors who declared that their bodies should be made available after their deaths for the education of physicians and the instruction of laypersons.
My personal favorite is the one where they remove everything except the blood vessles – it’s a stand alone version of a body shown just by the blood lines. What I can say is it makes it clear why men are ruled by their little man downstairs…who knew?
This exhibit is the real deal done by artists who pose their subjects doing everyday things so you can see what muscles come into play where. If you saw the other exhibit that came through SF a few years back at the Masonic Auditorium and think you’ve seen it, I assure you, you haven’t. That exhibit was a sore dissapointment in comparison, done quickly just to make a buck I would say…sound familiar? Also they soley used Asian bodies so you miss how different the races are. It was also called into question whether those bodies were intending to be on display after death, (rumor had it they were prisoners that came from Beijing – but I cannot verify that) plus the bodies were leaking…which is just plain wrong, once you see the real deal it’s clear the other exhibit was a hack job.
This is a MUST see for anyone remotely interesting in their own body…sad if you aren’t you only have one – and I too was nervous about whether I could handle seeing dead bodies or not, but the fascination in everyone I witnessed kicked-in to override the potential fear/gross-out factor. Plus they really honor the donors who are helping everyone get a little more cozy with this thing we’re all stuck with.
Well worth the drive bus or train ride out!
Word of warning avoid the holidays.
