Body Worlds creator plans to display himself
Anatomist Gunther von Hagens, the man behind Body Worlds and the Institute for Plastination, says he is dying and plans to become part of his own exhibition.The 65-year-old, dubbed 'Dr Death' thanks to his gruesome exhibitions of dead bodies in bizarre poses, has revealed he's suffering from Parkinson's Disease.
Having hidden the illness for two years, he says the symptoms have become too severe and that doctors suggest he could now have just seven years to live.
It's said he's planning to undergo the plastination preservation process after his death and already thinking about where he wants to be exhibited.
Given he has previously shown bodies playing sports or even having sex, we are curious about what pose he will want to be in… and whether he will still be wearing that hat.
Speaking of his struggle with Parkinson's, von Hagens said: "This disease has led me to an existential bewilderment. According to my research the average duration of the disease and disability is about nine years.
"Since I was diagnosed two years ago, I can realistically expect seven active working years before I become totally incapacitated.
"I can no longer hide the symptoms. My hands tremble, my language is vague, my movements are uncoordinated. Again and again I stumble around like a child.
"I have begun to take leave of skills I once had, knowing that they will never come back again."
LINKS
BODY WORLDS
Picture Credit: Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS, Institute for Plastination, Heidelberg, Germany, www.bodyworlds.com
"Since I was diagnosed two years ago, I can realistically expect seven active working years before I become totally incapacitated.
"I can no longer hide the symptoms. My hands tremble, my language is vague, my movements are uncoordinated. Again and again I stumble around like a child.
"I have begun to take leave of skills I once had, knowing that they will never come back again."
LINKS
BODY WORLDS
Picture Credit: Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS, Institute for Plastination, Heidelberg, Germany, www.bodyworlds.com
