Controversial body parts artist unveils latest exhibits

A GERMAN professor whose exhibits of preserved human corpses have caused controversy worldwide, yesterday unveiled two of the macabre exhibits at the launch of his latest morbid project.

Gunther von Hagens posed with the bodies, which have been skinned to reveal tendons and bones, at the old city morgue in Edinburgh’s historic Cowgate. The musty, low-lit temporary venue was found at the last minute after institutions including the city council refused to house the exhibit. However, despite his desire to put on a permanent show in the city, he has still not found anyone willing to take it on long term.

Prof von Hagens, whose Body Worlds show has attracted about eight million visitors worldwide since 1995, called the press conference to promote Futurehuman, a new TV documentary. The programme will feature his search for a terminally ill donor to take part in his project to redesign and perfect a dead body and preserve it for posterity.