Johannesburg - He holds her up, his skeletal hand supporting her body as they stand in a figure skating lift. Her muscles stretch as her head bends backwards.
But these are not your typical human bodies or living for that matter. A look of fascination crosses the schoolchildren’s faces as they stare at the towering figures.
These figure skaters, which were once living and breathing, are now a part of the Body Worlds Exhibition in Joburg showcasing the human body, its organs, muscles, bones and, most importantly, how it all works.
The curator and designer of the Body Worlds Vital Exhibition, Dr Angelina Whalley, said real human bodies were used for the exhibits, so that visitors can find out about the body in a “real human way”.
She explained the bodies had been preserved through plastination.
“This is a vacuum process which allows us to impregnate anatomical specimens with polymers like silicone, rubber and epoxy.”
Whalley said these materials were used to exchange tissue against the polymer in a vacuum. “So all tissue cells are still in place, just the body fluid is replaced.”
The last time the exhibition was in South Africa was in 2013, but this year’s theme - Vital - brings a new set of exhibits.
“The theme here is to encourage people to live a healthier lifestyle. We want people to see what makes them tick and have a complete view so they don’t take their bodies for granted,” Whalley said.
The Star spoke to several pupils from King David High School Victory Park and Orion College about watching a real-life 3D view of the body.
Grade 9 pupils from Orion College, Reece Aitchison and Marlena Potgieter, said this was very relevant to them as they were studying the human body at school.
“It’s just amazing to see what happens inside the body and the chain reactions of how everything is connected,” said Marlena.
“Learning about the body helps you to understand how we grow and how we became this way,” Reece added.
King David pupils Dena Zeff and and Leanne Urdang said it was interesting to see “what was under the skin”.
“It paints a picture for us and shows us what it’s really like instead of just seeing it in a textbook,” Dena said.
Many of the pupils agreed the best part of the Body Worlds Vital Exhibition was the embryo exhibit. “Just to see the different stages of the embryo and how it becomes a baby is fascinating,” said Leanne.
Whalley said there was a strong educational aim to the exhibition. “It will educate people about how things work and also help physicians understand diseases better.
“We want people to realise the wonderful treasures they have inside them. They need to know how intricate and fragile the human body is because it’s the only place we have to live.
“The aim here is to inspire our visitors at an emotional, physical and philosophical level,” she said.
The Star