The "Our Body, The Universe Within" art exhibit

This is an exhibit that is showing at the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center on the U.T. Campus. It has been travelling the world and I finally had the opportunity to see the exhibit. It was both interesting and disturbing at the same time. Most of the exhibits were pretty harmless (the kind of fare that you would see in biology class, the only exception would be that instead of using artificially made models, they used real human cadavers). The bodies were preserved using a process called polymer impregnation which both preserves and dries. The skin had been removed so that you could see the muscle and skeletal systems and some were only partially skinned. Blood vessels and muscles were painted to match live muscle and pigment tones.

Some of the bodies were encased in glass and some were not. It was quite shocking to see them up close. Capillaries and ventricles were highlighted with color for enhancement. The most horrifying thing by far was the prenatal room which had several dead infants and fetuses (shown in monthly progressions) in liquid and lit by lights from underneath(very disturbing). Also there were several bodies that had been sliced into small half inch segments. The segments were then encased in small, glass window-like sections and then spread out so that it looked like a human body that had been stretched out like an accordion. You could see in between each of the segments and the body is laid out as if the person is laying on their back. There was also a body that was holding it's own skin in his arms. Other parts of the exhibit showed various parts of the body and organs opened to where everything inside is visible.

Most of the hour long exhibit seemed harmless, nothing you wouldn't normally see in a science class. It was fascinating to see, but not for the squeamish. I couldn't decide whether it was art or science (maybe it really was both, but I'm glad to have seen it). I think it was one of the most interesting things that I have seen. Check it out if you have the chance. It will be on display until September.