Body Worlds exhibition returns

The latest in the Body Worlds exhibition series will be at the V&A Waterfront from Women’s Day, Tuesday August 9, until Sunday October 23.

The Body Worlds Vital exhibition focuses on health, vitality, the body’s athletic potential, and the effects of certain major chronic diseases. The last Body Worlds exhibition centered on the ageing process.

Visitors to the exhibition can explore human anatomy, physiology and health through around 180 authentic whole-body plastinates, individual organs and transparent body slices.

Healthy and diseased organs are shown alongside each other, while displays of the nervous and cardiovascular systems show the intricacies of the highly complex human body. Specimens are permanently preserved through the process of pastination, invented by anatomist, Dr Gunther von Hagens.

Brought to South Africa by Cape Town-based Great World Exhibitions, the bodies on display have been willed by donors for plastination to increase public awareness of the human body.

To date, more than 15 000 donors around the world have bequeathed their bodies to Dr Von Hagens’ Institute for Plastination after death.

There is no minimum age limit and parents are advised to use their discretion when deciding whether the exhibition is right for children in their care.

Book at www.webtickets.co.za or visit www.bodyworldsvital.co.za for details or find greatworldexhibitionssa on facebook.