N o vem b er 30, 2011
^lortlanò (Phserocr
Page 9
Mississippi
Alberta
North Portland
Vancouver
East County
Beaverton
—• " “ ~ " »“ — ««* »="s is s a s s i--
Exhibit a marvel of
bodies, organs and
body slices
by
^ orli and the Brain exhibit, open through
December.
"This exhibit presents an unparalleled
opportunity to learn about the anatomy of
the human body, both its resilience and fra-
gility," said OMSI President Nancy Stueber.
In the all-new show, the German anatomist
brings to life the anatomy of the human body
in a way textbooks never could, featuring
entire bodies, individual organs, transparent
C ari H achmann
Perched in a glass box at the Oregon
Museum of Science and Industry in Port­
land, the human figure of a beautiful ballet
dancer poses mid-air.
Her back is arched with arms outstretched
like wings of an elegant bird. One slippered
toe touches the floor while the other points
to the sky, yet there is something eerie about
this dove-like dancer— she is dead. Her skin
has been removed, revealing blood-red
muscles and white ligaments that secure her
in perfect muscular balance. Chin lifted, her
eyes gaze ahead, popping from an exposed
skull and half-hallowed face of cartilage and
muscle tissue. Her buttocks muscles are
flayed open, wing-like, exposing female re­
productive parts.
This utterly delicate yet gruesome form
called The Dancer is one of 200 real human
specimens preserved by Gunther von Hagens
photo by C ari H achmann /T he P ortland O bserver
th ro u g h his rev o lu tio n ary m ethod o f This figure, in a yoga pose is one o f many that display both the flexibility o f the
plastination and on display at OM SI’s Body human form and the details o f human anatomy.
body slices, and original works of art from
years past.
Von Hagens’ exhibit, artistically designed
and co-conceptualized by his wife Dr.
Angelina Whalley, features current research
on neuroscience, brain development, and
performance.
A smiling ligament skeleton sitting cross-
legged welcomes visitors inside the two-
story exhibit. Like the other forms, he gave
permission during his lifetime to contribute
his body after death for ‘the medical enlight­
enment of lay people’.
Meandering throughout the dim-lit rooms,
guests can view wall texts about marvels of
the brain: consciousness, intelligence, per­
sonality, learning, memory, creativity, emo­
tions, and the effects of music, stress, sleep,
and love on the brain.
"The brain is an incredible marvel of engi­
neering. I wanted people to recognize what is
known about this amazing gem inside our
heads, and be awed by its possibilities and
capacities," said von Hagens.
Upstairs, visitors are taken on a textual
journey of the brain from an infant to the
child, teenager, adult and finally aging brain.
continued
on page 13