World famous exhibition “Secrets of the body. The Universe Inside ”over its seven years of existence has earned a reputation as a very controversial exposition. The subject of controversy was the issue of the mission that exhibits should carry.
Exposition history
The idea of ​​such an exposition was developed by scientists for a long time, but for the first time a platform with anatomical exhibits unfolded in 2007. Over its creation, the thousandth army of scientists from the center of education, the scientific center and the foundation of anatomical technologies and sciences of Hong Kong worked.
At present, the huge exhibition includes four sites displaying exhibits simultaneously in cities of different countries. The exhibition "Secrets of the body", which began in 2014 in Moscow, was divided into 4 rooms and totaled more than 200 exhibits, including human bodies and individual organs. Acquaintance with the internal universe of the body began with the brain and circulatory system. Moving from exhibit to exhibit, visitors recognized the intricacies of the respiratory and urogenital systems, and could see internal organs, either in whole or in section.
Since the first public exhibition, the Secrets of the Body exhibition has welcomed more than 2 million visitors. Demonstration venues were unfolding in many cities around the world, and the viewers' opinions everywhere were mixed.
The main goal is cognitive visibility
The organizers voiced the main purpose of the exhibition as educational. It is no coincidence that the guides at all sites selected doctors who are ready to answer all questions of visitors. Some of them conduct tours, and some are present in the role of consultants.
The exposition is aimed at helping to comprehend the secrets of the human body. The exhibition, from the first to the last exhibit, allows you to make a “journey” through all body systems, visually examine their complex relationship with each other, understand how a person moves, breathes and nourishes his body. It will be informative for people of any age.
Ethical side of the exposition
To reveal the main topic of cognition of the body, the audience is shown real human bodies, no matter how ominous it may sound. Even taking into account the fact that their former "owners", even in the years of health, agreed to use their bodies for educational exhibits, the mentality of many minds cannot fully accept this. This is the main factor in the inconsistency of the attitude of the audience to the exhibits.
It is not easy for many to realize that he sees the real body of a person, one might say, a corpse. At this point, issues of consent and conservation go by the wayside. By the way, about conservation. In order to preserve the naturalness of the body and “give” it life, ultramodern conservation technologies were applied in the preparation of the exhibits. All the liquid that was supposed to be in a living organism was replaced by silicone, and the organs underwent polymer preservation. This method allowed all tissues and organs of human bodies presented for viewing to maintain a “lively" look and amazing naturalness.
Get ready for the “right” perception
I must say that for an unprepared viewer, the exhibition "Secrets of the body" can have a strong negative impression. If you do not take into account the doctors, whose minds from their student years are ready to perceive all the subtleties of the human body, then for a simple layman, even the most curious, the anatomical theater is a shocking sight. All the curious cases in the anatomics, which people in white coats recall with pleasure, cause a cautious smile in the rest. Everyone projects on himself. Could he stand it?
In order to protect yourself from such thoughts, it is better to know, at least briefly, what an exhibition of “body secrets” is preparing for you. Photos, visitor reviews, maybe an anatomy textbook - all this will help to tune in to the “right” perception.
Given the ethical side and respect for the exhibit bodies, the organizers introduced a ban on amateur photography inside the venue. You can only imagine how many would be willing to take a “selfie” and how blasphemous it would look. Professional shooting is provided by the exhibition "body secrets". Both adults and children like photos. A special photo wall has been designed for the original memorable photo on the site.
Cognition or a nightmare?
Faced with radically opposed reviews from visitors, the exposition was recognized as one of the scandalous and controversial. But the medical world is not tired of challenging this opinion.
Modern exhibition halls today open the doors for other world-famous exhibits, where the creators do not hesitate to demonstrate the anomalies and ugliness of human bodies, where real provocative stories related to the work of vital systems of the body are compiled. Despite the debate about the moral side of this spectacle, the exhibition “Secrets of the body” is perceived by the world medical community as a visual educational tool for lay people.