Bodies: The Exhibition

Promotional poster.

Bodies: The Exhibition is an exhibition showcasing human bodies that have been preserved through a process called plastination and dissected to display bodily systems.[1] It opened in Tampa, Florida on August 20, 2005.[2] It is similar to, though not affiliated with, the exhibition Body Worlds (which opened in 1995). The exhibit displays internal organs and organic systems, bodies staged in active poses, and fetuses in various stages of development.

The show is operated by Premier Exhibitions[3] which presents and promotes similar exhibits including "Bodies Revealed", and "Our Body: The Universe Within", and other entertainment exhibits.[4] The Exhibition showcases 13 whole-body specimens and more than 260 organs and partial body specimens. These real human bodies have been meticulously dissected, preserved through an innovative process.[5]

Concerns have been raised by human rights advocates that the bodies are those of executed Chinese prisoners, and that the families of the victims have not consented. The exhibition has claimed that the presumed origin of the bodies and fetuses "relies solely on the representations of its Chinese partners" and that they "cannot independently verify" that the bodies do not belong to executed prisoners.[6] Catholics also had high levels of concern about allowing children to view displays containing human remains.[7][8][9][10][11][12]

  1. ^ Ulaby, Neda (August 11, 2006). "Origins of Exhibited Cadavers Questioned". NPR.org. National Public Radio. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  2. ^ "'Bodies… The Exhibition' Makes Its World Debut" (PDF) (Press release). Premier Exhibitions, Inc. July 26, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2009. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
  3. ^ "Welcome to Premier Exhibitions". Premier Exhibitions, Inc. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
  4. ^ "PRXI: Profile for Premier Exhibitions Inc". Yahoo!. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
  5. ^ "BODIES...The Exhibition | Las Vegas, NV".
  6. ^ "2008-08-22 archive". Premier Exhibitions, Inc. Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  7. ^ Ulaby, Neda (August 11, 2006). "Origins of Exhibited Cadavers Questioned". All Things Considered. National Public Radio. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
  8. ^ KTVI (August 28, 2007). "No Body World Exhibit For Catholic Field Trips". Fox Television Stations. Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved September 17, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ Rodgers, Ann (September 14, 2007). "Catholic diocese OKs attendance at 'Bodies' exhibit". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  10. ^ Knippenberg, Jim (January 28, 2008). "Archbishop says no to 'Bodies' exhibit". The Enquirer. Archived from the original on January 31, 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  11. ^ Lazaruk, Susan (October 1, 2006). "Abbotsford schools barred from taking ghoulish field trip". The Province. Archived from the original on February 8, 2009. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
  12. ^ Reiners, Christoph (September 19, 2006). "Body worlds objectifies humanity". Abbotsford News. Archived from the original on July 7, 2007. Retrieved September 17, 2008.