Sci-Bono hosts Body Worlds Vital in Johannesburg

Visitors will get a detailed look at the human body and its keenly intelligent design, explore how it functions and see what happens when disease strikes.

Tyrone Thöle, MD of Great World Exhibitions, commented, "After the previous success of Body Worlds, we have been inundated with requests to bring it back. For me, this new exhibition is an authentic and unforgettable experience and I am convinced that it provides the most meaningful and memorable learning opportunity for everybody."

Dr Angelina Whalley, curator and designer of the Body Worlds exhibitions said, "The exhibition celebrates the living human body in its optimal state - healthy, vibrant, vigorous and in motion. At the same time, it presents the leading health concerns of contemporary times, the causes of these conditions and diseases, and ways to prevent or manage them. It is our hope that visitors will recognise the potential of the human body, and will be inspired to live a life in good health and with vitality."

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to explore human anatomy, physiology and health through around 180 authentic whole-body plastinates, individual organs and transparent body slices. A pair of figure skaters performing a skilful lift, a soccer player dribbling a ball and a chess player plotting his next move illustrates the body as never before. Healthy and diseased organs are shown alongside each other, while displays of the nervous and cardiovascular systems show the intricacies of our complex body. Specimens are permanently preserved through the process of Plastination, invented by anatomist, Dr Gunther von Hagens.

To increase public awareness of the human body donors have willed bodies on display for Plastination. To date, more than 15,000 donors around the world have bequeathed their bodies to Dr von Hagens' Institute for Plastination after death.

As a guideline, Body Worlds Vital is recommended for children aged 8+. An adult should accompany children. The show is open every day from 9am to 5pm and needs around 90 to 120 minutes to view. Pricing information and tickets are available now at www.bodyworldsvital.co.za and Webtickets www.webticket.co.za.