Gunther von Hagens, the German anatomist who developed the plastination technique and gained international recognition for his Body Worlds exhibitions, died on July 24, 2026, at the age of 81. His family and the Institute for Plastination announced his death, noting that he passed in a hospital following a cerebral haemorrhage. Von Hagens had been living with Parkinson’s disease since 2008.
Von Hagens pioneered plastination in 1977 while working at the University of Heidelberg. His method involves replacing water and fat in human cadavers with polymers such as resins and silicone, resulting in durable, odorless specimens that can be posed in lifelike positions. This process allowed bodies to be displayed in ways that revealed detailed anatomy, often arranged in dynamic or provocative tableaux, such as playing chess, exercising, or other everyday activities.
The Body Worlds exhibitions, which began touring in 1995, have been seen by tens of millions of visitors worldwide. Von Hagens’ displays combined scientific education with artistic presentation, aiming to educate the public about human anatomy. He emphasized the educational purpose of plastination and maintained that all bodies used were donated with full consent. However, his work was not without controversy. Religious groups, ethicists, and some public officials questioned the morality of exhibiting human remains and expressed concern over the sourcing of certain bodies, particularly those from countries with opaque legal and ethical standards.
Von Hagens’ approach to public engagement was often provocative. He staged public autopsies and used striking promotional methods, including displaying plastinated bodies in unexpected settings. His work attracted both admiration and criticism, with some accusing him of prioritizing commercial interests over scientific integrity. The ethical debates were especially intense in Germany, where memories of Nazi medical abuses heightened sensitivities about the treatment of human remains.
Born Gunther Liebchen on January 10, 1945, in what is now Poland, von Hagens experienced a turbulent youth, including imprisonment for attempting to flee East Germany following political protests. He completed his medical studies in West Germany and later adopted his wife’s surname. His fascination with anatomy began in childhood, exacerbated by his own health struggles. Over his career, von Hagens expanded plastination institutes internationally, including facilities in China and Kyrgyzstan.
In his later years, he concentrated on the Plastinarium in Guben, Germany, a museum dedicated to plastinated specimens. Facing financial challenges, he enlisted his son to help stabilize the operation. Von Hagens led a modest personal life despite his global fame.
A longstanding wish of von Hagens’ was for his own body to be plastinated and displayed after his death. According to representatives of the Plastinarium, that wish will be fulfilled, although the specific plans for exhibiting his remains have yet to be finalized. Von Hagens viewed death from a materialist perspective, rejecting spiritual interpretations and underscoring the physical reality of the human body as his primary interest throughout his career.