Gunther von Hagens, the German anatomist behind the ‘Body Worlds’ exhibition, dies at 81

Gunther von Hagens, the German anatomist behind the ‘Body Worlds’ exhibition, dies at 81 1 of 3 | Doctor Gunther von Hagens, anatomist, inventor of and creator of Body Worlds The Original Exhibitions of Real Human Bodies known as Germany’s ‘Dr Death’ , is seen in front of one of his works in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, June 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta, file) 2 of 3 | German Gunther von Hagens poses with a display from “Body Worlds” anatomy exhibit that puts real human specimens on show in Dallas, Texas, Jan. 23, 2007. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File) 3 of 3 | Gunther von Hagen poses in front of the sculpture ‘Rearing Horse with Rider’ during the launch of Gunther von Hagens’ Body Worlds museum in London, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, file) 1 of 3 | Doctor Gunther von Hagens, anatomist, inventor of and creator of Body Worlds The Original Exhibitions of Real Human Bodies known as Germany’s ‘Dr Death’ , is seen in front of one of his works in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, June 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta, file) 1 of 3 Doctor Gunther von Hagens, anatomist, inventor of and creator of Body Worlds The Original Exhibitions of Real Human Bodies known as Germany’s ‘Dr Death’ , is seen in front of one of his works in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, June 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta, file) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 3 | German Gunther von Hagens poses with a display from “Body Worlds” anatomy exhibit that puts real human specimens on show in Dallas, Texas, Jan. 23, 2007. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File) 2 of 3 German Gunther von Hagens poses with a display from “Body Worlds” anatomy exhibit that puts real human specimens on show in Dallas, Texas, Jan. 23, 2007. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 3 | Gunther von Hagen poses in front of the sculpture ‘Rearing Horse with Rider’ during the launch of Gunther von Hagens’ Body Worlds museum in London, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, file) 3 of 3 Gunther von Hagen poses in front of the sculpture ‘Rearing Horse with Rider’ during the launch of Gunther von Hagens’ Body Worlds museum in London, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, file) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] BERLIN (AP) — Gunther von Hagens, the German anatomist who generated both fascination and revulsion around the globe with his “Body Worlds” exhibits of preserved human corpses, has died. He was 81.Von Hagens’ family and the Institute for Plastination, which he founded, said he died on Friday. A statement they issued on Monday gave no further details. Von Hagens had announced in 2010 that he was living with Parkinson’s disease.Von Hagens trod a fine line between science, entertainment and commerce with his touring exhibits, as well as headline-grabbing actions such as a public autopsy.At the heart of von Hagens’ work was the so-called plastination process — replacing body fluids with liquid plastic that then hardens. That technique, which he started developing in the 1970s, prevented decay, left tissues intact and allowed him to display preserved corpses and their inner organs. The resulting exhibition, “Body Worlds,” first went on show in Japan in 1995. Two years later, the collection of partly skinless corpses went on display in von Hagens’ homeland, overcoming an attempt by local church leaders to block its opening on the grounds that it was disrespectful. Von Hagens said he was helping viewers understand how their bodies work. The anatomist “is forced in his daily work to reject the taboos and convictions that people have about death and the dead,” von Hagens said of his work.