Artist Gunther von Hagens isn't exactly known for his watercolor landscapes. The German sculptor has deliberately courted controversy with his Body Worlds shows, which feature human cadavers arranged in eerie, lifelike poses, from headbutting a soccer ball to playing the saxophone. His latest project, "Cycle of Life," is getting even more people upset, due to its depiction of two dead bodies having sex. The deathly couple, who volunteered before death to be used in the sex exhibition, were stripped of their water and fats and injected with plastic before being posed in a sexual position.
Although von Hagens points out that the exhibit isn't meant to be sexually stimulating, some people are still disturbed by the subject matter. "Love and death are obvious topics for art, but I find it quite disgusting to use them in this way," Social Democrat Fritz Felegentreu said in The Guardian.
The fornicating couple had never met in life, suggesting that first dates get way better in the afterlife.


























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Friday 08 May
By John padrick murry
How disgusting
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Thursday 07 May
By Lu
I would believe this is disrespectful of the human remains. They could be used for medical purposes, science, cremated, etc. as the original owner might mandate. ...unless it Commander-in-Grief Bosco BoBo who has no heart nor brain in this, der feurer's, life anyway.
Thursday 07 May
By mikey
PRIME TIME T.V. SHOWS PORNO PERVERSION EVERY SECOND..WHO THE HELL CARES ????????????
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Friday 08 May
By ashley
It wouldn't be great art if it didn't provoke such controversy.
How is this "disrespectful"?
The project is called "circle of life"
Is sex not as big a part of life as soccer might be for some?
And really though... these people are dead.
DEAD. No life. Vessels.
They donated their bodies and this is where they ended up.
Its art. Let it go.
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Friday 08 May
By ZEKE
ITS----AFI-----(Art For Idiots)
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Friday 08 May
By zthezs
This is called------AFI-----(Art For Idiots)
Reply
Monday 11 May
By Teriqua
I believe in traditional funerals. But definately plan to be creamated. As a Catholic, I spoke to my Priest about the churches' opinion on creamation. He told me that is it considered acceptable; unless, the ashes are scattered in a disrespectful or unholy way. That being said, I think this is disrespectful and the bodies have been desecrated. I appreciate art as much as the next person. But if the medium used is decaying human tissue, I say it is not art. I sure as hell would not want this piece in my living room. Creepy!
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Wednesday 20 May
By JJ
It's an education with a much deeper look at the body than skin deep, that a person very rarely ever gets to see. Leave the man alone. If you don't like it, don't look. No one's going to FORCE you to look at them or to buy them...for Heaven's sake!
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Friday 29 May
By candice
I went to view the body worlds exhibit when it was in Cleveland. Not only was it an awesome learning experience, for i am a nurse, but it was really amazing that people donated thier bodies for the sake of art..all of the details..I think this man does AWESOME work!! Leave him alone!!!
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Wednesday 10 June
By Deluxe Edition
Pics or it didnt happen.
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Friday 19 June
By waycross48
This is no more ART than what a two year old scribbles on a piece of paper. It sick. Just plain sick. Human remains - should be treated with respect no matter what the "owner" of that body wanted. This is what separates us from the animals - the respect we have for our dead. Sorry, but this is NOT art. It's PERVERSION - plain and simple.
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Saturday 20 June
By Jackie
What a dead subject
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Sunday 21 June
By Hbot
Really? What is wrong with people? Medical porn? Not only did these people wish to donate thier bodies to science after they died, they filled out specific forms to be part of this Body Worlds exhibit!!! This is no more porn than a medical textbook or a dayime soap opera. I'm tired of stupid people being "offended" by things just because they are bored or because they don't understand it.
Grow Up.
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Sunday 21 June
By bthta7
Ewww! Looks like a sick bast*** 2 me
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Sunday 04 October
By Jo
really no one is asking you to buy this and put it in your living room, its not that type of art and if someone did want it, its none of your business to judge them. That being said, let the man be, its art, no one is forcing you to look at it, if it bothers you so much don't look at it, read about it or ask about it.
As for the people that donated their bodies, they were great people because obviously some people are way too selfish and uptight to let others understand and see such things that before this artist were unimaginable.
If we kept worrying about art that offended people we'd be stuck looking at white canvas' with rainbows and unicorns painted on them!
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Sunday 21 June
By george murphy
I saw an version of this exhibit at the Museum of Science in Boston two years ago: I was amazed and intrigued to see the beautiful complexity of "the body" in the scientific perspective. I also understand that the production aspect of the operation must be supported financially and in turn it becomes "art, e.g. entertainment" on some level if it is to attract the general public.
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Friday 03 July
By Jenn
I love his work, and would love to donate my body to his future projects if I die in the near future, I am thirty three, What better way to educate, fascinate and not just take up empty space. We need to be conscious of what impact or legacy we leave behind besides a cemetary full of carnations.
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