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Montreal is hosting the Monde du Corps 2 exhibtion in the Science Center.

Science Center

The Science Center is down in the Old Port area, a good 2 km walk from our place, which means you are already tired when arriving there… I planned to go and see this exhibtion for quite a while, and now I am so happy we didn’t miss it.

I don’t want to bore you with the description of the plastination technique - if you are interested you can read all the details on Gunter von Hagens’ website, the Bodyworlds.com

During our school years we have all seen different anatomical charts and maquettes of our body but that was different.

Poster

The giant poster all over the city shows a real body. As you enter the exhibition that’s the first thing you are warned about: these are real bodies of real persons. Although you know - in theory - how complicated “device” the human body is… seeing it exposed it’s simply amazing. The synchronization of the millions of cells in a movement, the inter-relation of of the different organs and “communication systems” make you breathless. Somehow the whole experience is far beyond anatomy - it is more like a philosophical guided meditation about the human condition. When the skin is removed, the extreme fragility of our body becomes exposed but on the other hand you start also wondering regarding the fantastic strength hidden in those bones, muscles and organs.

Above fifty we all have recurring thoughts about our own mortality (since, usually, we don’t have as much ahead as we have left behind), we start watching the reactions and the behaviour of our own body; the pain here and there makes us aware of the tired and worn “parts” - in other words we start to contemplate about things like the “meaning of the life” and the purpose of our existence. If you didn’t do it till now, you will, if you visit the Bodyworlds exhibition.

Despite my expectations it is not morbid or scary at all! That was, perhaps, the biggest surprize for me. It is beautiful and thought provoking. It is a totally unique expereince. If it comes to your area - go and see it. A great opportunity to learn about the humankind in general and, maybe, to start an introspective thought process aboutyourself.