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Hanie and I saw the Bodies Exhibit this weekend at UTC (former site of Macy’s) and it left me in awe. The exhibition consists of actual human bodies and body parts, all perfectly preserved for you to see and experience. And by preserved, I don’t mean a hand in a jar full of formaldehyde. We’re talking about tissue basically in suspended animation. The creators of the exhibit were able to preserve bone and tissue in a manner where the items could be displayed openly without the fear of decay or distortion.

Needless to say, the displays were pretty extraordinary. Muscles, bones, veins, blood vessels, and even full skeletons complete with internal organs and muscles were on display. It slowly dawns on you that these are real human beings and real human parts. Apparently, the bodies were unclaimed people from China.

Some of the most striking elements of the exhibit were the skull and brain, lungs and liver, and human fetuses. The skull, face, and brain were much more complex than I had imagined. They had lungs ravaged by cancer and emphysema and livers afflicted with cirrhosis from years of chronic alcohol abuse on display, which was disturbing. The human fetuses ranged from conception to several months old. By 9 weeks, the human shape could already be easily discerned. It’s quite amazing how intricate, complex, and delicate the human body is.

Overall, the exhibition was well worth the $26 admission and I would recommend everyone experiencing it. It really made it clear how fragile and precious life is. I definitely came away with a greater understand and appreciation for the human body, not to mention a strong desire to take better care of myself.