Sunday 16 January 2011

Gunter von Hagens

 Gunter von Hagens, 
 
 
 
developer of a body preservation
method called "plastination", which essentially replaces the body's
fluids and fats with a reactive polymer.  The level of preservation is
remarkably lifelike, and astonishingly fascinating:

Gunter von Hagens' Bodyworlds:  The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies
http://www.koerperwelten.de/en/pages/home.asp

His horse and rider piece is featured on that page, and you can see it
in greater detail here:

Highlander
http://www.koerperwelten.de/Downloads/Wallpaper_Highlander_800x600.jpg
I don't want to post pictires of his art because I dislike it. I think it is horrible.
The artist who also used human and animal bodies for sculptures was Honoré
Fragonard.  He was indeed featured on a Ripley's Believe It or Not;
has a gallery in Europe; and is known for a sculpture of a horse and
rider.

"Episode #109 (Wednesday, March 8, 2000 continued)" [under "Corpse Artist"]
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
http://www.sonypictures.com/tv/shows/ripleys/database/ep_109b.html

"Dead Bodies - Fact or Fiction?" [under "Honore Fragonard"]
Kidzworld
http://www.kidzworld.com/site/p1855.htm

Musée Fragonard
http://www.vet-alfort.fr/fr/musee/musee.htm [unfortunately only the
French pages are working]