Myth of the Human Body: Fascinating or Disturbing Exhibit?

Last Tuesday, my friends and I went to the much talked about Myth of the Human Body exhibit in Taguig City.

The exhibit is bordering controversial with its use of real people to explore the intricacies of the human body. 

Rearing Horse and Rider by Gunther von Hagens
(photo courtesy of corporeality.net)

Yes, the exhibit uses real cadavers that underwent the process of plastination. This process of preserving biological tissues was invented by the controversial German anatomist, Gunther von Hagens in 1977. He is most famous for the "Rearing Horse & Rider."


According to our tour guide, all of the bodies in the exhibit came from von Hagen's laboratory. All of which are Chinese (my dear race! I have Chinese blood :P), mostly male with a few children and unborn. 


I know some of you might be raising their eyebrows at this point. I know, on a philosophical point of view, this exhibit is an objectification of human beings. It really is. I think that's exactly what the exhibit aims to achieve anyway - a more in depth scientific look at the human body. 


So prepare your minds as a detached observer when you go here. With your scientific hat on, the exhibit becomes a very visually detailed anatomy lesson. The exhibit is divided into 6 parts according to body systems. Each part is named after a Greek deity, hence the name of the exhibit:

• Poseidon - Respiratory System
• Dionysus - Digestive System
• Hades - Circulatory System
• Eros - Reproductive System
• Zeus - Brain and Nervous System
• Artemis - Fetal System

Upon entering, we were first asked if we were medical students. Later we realized that you'll appreciate the exhibit more if you were. So if you have medical or biology friends, make sure to tag along with them. :)


Assisted by a tour guide, we went around the exhibit quite fast. You can opt not to have the tour and take your time in each part of the exhibit. On hindsight, we should have done that.


Anyway, we then took a sitting break for a conception video prior to the Eros part. (Good thing, my bag was so heavy!) Don't miss out on this video! It's an inside look at what happens inside the mother's womb from the perspective of the baby. They pieced together several ultrasound images to have a 3-D look of the baby. Amazing right? I looked around for other reviews and learned that the video they use changes. If you can, request for the conception video. 


Overall, the exhibit is really educational. You're bound to appreciate your body more after the exhibit. Let me share with you some of the striking facts that I picked up:

• If you live in the city, your lungs are discolored already even if you're not a smoker. (I'm so sorry my dear lungs!)
• The internal organs of a pregnant woman in her 3rd trimester are all pushed up to make room for the growing baby. The heart is pushed more to the left and the lungs are barely given space, hence the shortlessness of breath among pregnant women. The back also bends down in order to carry all the extra weight, thus the lower back pains. 
• People these days don't decompose properly because of all of the preservatives we have eaten. (McDonald's, what have you done to me? Kidding!)

These are just some of the most striking lessons I learned. I assure you, there are a lot more to learn since every body system is really dissected. They were even able to isolate the circulatory system! There's a delicate red man made up of only coral looking nerves and arteries. Amazing!

I also really liked the fetal system with its very detailed per month progress of the fetus. This is a very apt part of the exhibit with the growing societal interest in the Reproductive Health Bill debate. 

They also displayed healthy organs as opposed to those with cancer or other ailments. It'll make you cling on to your organs (if you can!). If you don't eat on time, you'll see how a stomach suffering from ulcer looks like. Or if you're a heavy smoker, you'll personally see a collapsed lung.  

My favorite part of the exhibit is at the end where they divided the body into cross sections like CT scan images. 

Of course there are several disturbing parts of the exhibit. I personally felt disconcerted by the skinless man whose skin was hanging from his arm.  You'll even see his tattoo on his arm! The chopped and pulled up and down man was also disturbing. Lastly, I was really haunted by the pregnant woman with an open womb that reveals the dead baby inside. Aaack! 

So here are my tips for those who want to visit the exhibit anyway:

1. Go on a weekday. People with kids tend to flock the exhibit on weekends. It'll be harder to appreciate the exhibit if you're too busy clearing your path. 
2. Don't bring your young kids to the exhibit. They might get nightmares when they realize those are real people. Plus, unknowing kids tend to run around, poking the bodies. I'm sure you'll panic when you see them touching the bodies.
3. Eat before going to the exhibit. There's a restaurant after the whole tour but I don't think you'd have the appetite to eat afterwards. 
4. If you're really quesy and you can't stand looking at dead bodies, don't go. To check, watch the video of the exhibit. If you can't stand it, don't go. 
5. Wear a scientific hat. Psych yourself up before going to the exhibit. This is the best advice I can give you. 

If you're able to accomplish all 5 tips, I'm sure you'll somehow enjoy the educational exhibit. There's a lot to learn if you wear your scientific hat on. :)

Taking pictures of each other

PS. We're not allowed to take pictures inside the exhibit out of respect to the bodies. Well, I don't plan to take pictures of dead bodies anyway. :P There's a photo area at the end of the exhibit. 


More Info on Myth of the Human Body:
Address: Neobabylon Building, 9 Bayani Road, AFPOVAI, Taguig City
What to tell the taxi driver: Near Libingan ng mga Bayani, along Bayani Road
Map: Click me 
Contact Number: 889-5467 or 889-1724
Operating Hours: Monday-Sunday 10:30 AM - 8:30 PM
Exhibit Date: October 15, 2010 - April 17, 2011
Entrance Fee: Php350/person


~It's the little sweet notes everyday that matter. :)~