Gunther von Hagens, Creator of Body Worlds, Dies at 81

German anatomist Gunther von Hagens, known for inventing the plastination technique and for the international Body Worlds exhibitions, died on 24 July at age 81 after a cerebral haemorrhage in a Heidelberg hospital. He had lived with Parkinson’s disease for over a decade.

Von Hagens’ Body Worlds shows plastinated human bodies posed in lifelike scenes and has been displayed worldwide since its 1995 debut in Japan, drawing millions of visitors and sparking ethical debate. His family said his wishes to have his own body plastinated will be fulfilled, though they have not yet decided whether the resulting specimen will be exhibited.