Dr. Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS Vital is a complete chapter of its own in the famous series of BODY WORLDS exhibitions (also known as Körperwelten). This expo can be seen in Bruges from May 3, 2024 until March 9, 2025, in the historic wards of Site Oud Sint-Jan (Old St. John Site).

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A vital story

The multimedia exhibit explores how life-threatening diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease can be fought with a healthy, appropriate lifestyle. More than 200 anatomical preparations of real human bodies, plastinates, show the complexity, resilience and fragility of the body.

BODY WORLDS VITAL is on display in the ^19th-century halls of the former city hospital on Site Oud Sint-Jan (Old St. John Site). This new exhibition at BODY WORLDS showcases a unique collection of plasticized, real human bodies. The expo aims to inform a wide audience about the various aspects of the human body. From the functions and development of the body to the impact of diseases and certain lifestyles. At the same time, BODY WORLDS VITAL also highlights the complexity, resilience and fragility of the human body.

Visitors can admire an extensive collection of human bodies preserved by plastination, a pioneering conservation process invented by scientist and anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens. The exhibition was curated by Dr. Angelina Whalley, co-creator and conceptual designer of BODY WORLDS. It will offer visitors of all ages – including anyone who has seen the exhibit before – a new and fascinating view of the human body that you won’t find in any biology textbook.

Highlights

• A diverse collection of plastinates, including entire bodies, individual organs, organ configurations, transparent sections, blood vessel configurations and various growth stages.
• Educational displays will be able to captivate students of all ages.
• Plastinates of full bodies in natural poses, such as sports and making love, to show visitors how our anatomy works in everyday situations.
• Multimedia displays help explain common health topics and ailments.
• An interactive “Anatomical Mirror” takes over the visitor’s body movements and shows the viewer’s reflection as 3D plastinate on a large projection screen. The mirror reveals the layers of underlying anatomy and allows the figure to move with the visitor’s posture.
• The plastinates are available thanks to the donation program of the Institute for Plastination. More than 20,000 donors have bequeathed their bodies after death to Dr. von Hagens’ Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg, Germany.