AWE-INSPIRING EXHIBITION HEADING TO NEWCASTLE FOR UK FIRST

Copyright: Gunther von Hagens’ Institute for Plastination, Heidelberg, Germany.  Tickets on sale now, exhibition opens 17 May 2014 BODY WORLDS Vital, an exhibition that celebrates the wonder, complexity and fragility of the human body, is heading to Newcastle’s Life Science Centre for its UK debut. A unique and compelling exhibition, BODY WORLDS Vital brings together a collection of real human bodies, specimens and organs, willed by donors and preserved through plastination; a ground-breaking specimen preservation process invented by scientist Dr Gunther von Hagens. Over 38 million people have experienced BODY WORLDS in over 90 cities worldwide including Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles and Mexico City.  Vital features a unique set of anatomical specimens enabling visitors to learn about human anatomy by viewing real human bodies. Linda Conlon, Chief Executive of Life, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be bringing BODY WORLDS Vital to Newcastle for its UK debut.  It fuses art, science and culture and offers a rare opportunity to experience a powerful and remarkable exhibition that helps us to understand the wonder, sophistication and fragility of our own bodies.” BODY WORLDS Vital, which opens at Life on 17 May 2014, shows how the body works when it is healthy and explores how best to fight life-threatening diseases. It allows visitors to explore human anatomy, physiology and health through a series of full body plastinates, individual organs and transparent body slices that give a complete picture of how the human body works.  Healthy and diseased organs are shown alongside each other allowing visitors to see how lifestyle choices may affect the body, such as how smoking affects the lungs. Dr. Angelina Whalley, Curator and Designer of the BODY WORLDS exhibitions, said:  “I am struck by the synergy, symmetry and poetry of having the trailblazing science of plastination that unveils the keenly intelligent human body, presented at Life, the pioneering science village which has the co-founder of DNA, Nobel Laureate, Dr. James Watson as its patron. Our mission dovetails with that of Life - to engage visitors and ignite an interest in the life sciences.” Highlights of the exhibition include a relay runner posed mid-handover to display the muscular system and a gymnast posed mid-air in a spread-eagle jump. Support for the exhibition coming to Newcastle has been widespread: Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle Central, said: “It’s easy to forget that far from being abstract, science is also about finding out what it means to be human.  BODY WORLDS Vital is an incredible exhibition that makes the study of the human body accessible to us all allowing us to gain a new appreciation and respect for our own existence.  Life is to be applauded for bringing such an inspiring exhibition to the city.” Cllr Nick Forbes, leader of Newcastle City Council, said:  “It’s a coup for Newcastle that the International Centre for Life has managed to attract the BODY WORLDS Exhibition. High profile exhibitions like this bring people to the city from all over the world, as well as allowing local people the opportunity to see something completely unique.” Sarah Stewart, chief executive at destination management and marketing organisation, NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “BODY WORLDS Vital is without doubt one of NewcastleGateshead’s cultural calendar highlights for 2014, and what a coup for Life to be the first UK venue to host this exhibition in the BODY WORLDS series of events. There’s no better place to see an exhibition about the vital workings of the human body than a venue where life changing discoveries and research take place daily. Through Life, the public can learn more about the human body and the world around us.” BODY WORLDS Vital is at Life Science Centre on 17 May 2014 until 2 November 2014.  Tickets can be booked online at www.life.org.uk Life will be open until 8.00pm every Thursday evening for the duration of the exhibition. Opening times will be:             Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat 10am-6pm (last admission 4pm)                                                                                                                                                                            Thursday 10am – 8pm (last admission 7.00pm) Sunday 11am – 6pm (last admission 4pm) Prices for the exhibition are: Adults:£12.00   Concessions:£9.50  Child (aged 2-17): £7.50        Under 2s: Free   Family (2 adults & 2 children or 1 adult & 3 children) £29.50   Discounts for groups are also available. As a guideline, when visiting with children, Life suggests that BODY WORLDS Vital is of interest to children aged 8 and over and that all children are accompanied by an adult.  A Family Information pack is available on Life’s website, life.org.uk and offers an introduction to the exhibition and gives answers to frequently asked questions.