Gunther von Hagens, inventor of plastination and Body Worlds, dies at 81

Gunther von Hagens, the German anatomist who invented plastination and created the worldwide Body Worlds exhibitions, died at 81. According to a statement released by his family and the Institute for Plastination, von Hagens’s body will be plastinated and displayed in a museum in accordance with his long‑held wish to be sliced and exhibited after death.

Von Hagens pioneered a technique that preserves human bodies in a rigid, lifelike state, allowing them to be dissected and displayed for educational and artistic purposes. His Body Worlds shows, first staged in 1995, attracted millions of visitors but also sparked debate over the ethics of using human remains for public display. The institute confirmed that the plastination process will be carried out as the anatomist requested, ensuring that his body will be preserved for future generations.

The announcement underscores von Hagens’s lasting impact on anatomy and public science education, while also highlighting the ongoing controversy surrounding the use of plastinated bodies in museums. The Institute for Plastination will proceed with the preservation and display as a final tribute to the inventor’s career and personal wishes.