Heavenly Bodies?

(published in Campus Magazine, February 2009)

The controversial BODIES exhibition began its residency in Dublin City's Ambassador Theatre last month. The exhibition, showcasing preserved human remains in various states of dissection, first opened in Florida in 2005 and toured extensively prior to its arrival on our dear O' Connell Street.

BODIES has been the subject of much debate since its conception. Even before its U.S. premiere, there was a campaign to prevent it opening because of doubt over the exact origins of the exhibits. It has been alleged that the bodies on display are those of executed Chinese prisoners and an ABC documentary about the exhibition prompted the resignation of the CEO Premier Exhibitions, who run the exhibition. Premier’s website currently displays a disclaimer, admitting that they cannot prove the exact origins of all exhibits.

Despite reservations about the morality of BODIES, my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to check it out. The exhibition is unique in that, rather than displaying the remains in jars of formaldehyde, the limbs, organs, bones, veins and arteries have been 'plastinated'. As the name suggests, this process involves substituting plastic for water and fatty acids to prevent the body’s decay.

Some specimens have been manipulated to appear as though they are playing volleyball or conducting an orchestra, revealing the effort required by muscles and bones to perform these tasks. Other exhibits show the impact of alcohol and tobacco on our internal organs (a box for depositing packs of cigarettes is thoughtfully placed next to lungs that have been ravaged by smoking-induced cancer.)

One section featuring several foetuses in various stages of development is preceded by a warning that suggests those exhibition-goers of a sensitive disposition might want to skip this part of the exhibition.

BODIES will no doubt prove as divisive here as it has elsewhere and, if you’re prepared to ignore the ethical question marks, it‘s worth paying a visit. The real problem with the Dublin exhibition, however, is the choice of the Ambassador Theatre as its host. The venue is simply not big enough and, with exhibition-goers cramped into such a small space, there are often too many living, breathing bodies between you and the exhibits.

Student tickets for BODIES… The Exhibition are €16 and available from www.bodiesdublin.com

[Image: Day Life]