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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Philip Oltermann European culture editor

Gunther von Hagens, creator of Body Worlds and plastination, dies aged 81

Gunther von Hagens in his trademark black fedora posing alongside a preserved human body
Gunther von Hagens with a plastinated human body, displayed as part of a touring Body Worlds exhibition in 2007. Photograph: LM Otero/AP

Gunther von Hagens, who developed a technique for permanently preserving human bodies in rigid states and toured the world with his controversial Body Worlds exhibition, has moved closer to fulfilling a long-held wish to be sliced up and displayed in a museum after dying aged 81.

“It is with deep sadness that the family and the Institute for Plastination announce the passing of Dr Gunther von Hagens, inventor of plastination and creator of the Body Worlds exhibitions,” the German anatomist’s institute said in a statement on Monday.

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