Are there any rules and regulations for attending BODIES...The Exhibition?
The following are prohibited inside the galleries:
- No food or beverages
- No strollers - They may be checked at the coat check.
- No pets - seeing eye dogs only.
- No photography - cameras, video camera phones.
- No large packages, shopping bags or back packs.
- Cellular phones must be turned off in the exhibition.
- Smoking is not permitted in any area of the Exhibition Center.
How long does it take to go through the exhibition?
The museum experience is "self-guided" and "go-at-your-own-pace". The average time to thoroughly visit the exhibition is between an hour and an hour and a half.
Can you leave and come back to the exhibition during your visit?
Re-admittance is not permitted.
How long will the exhibition be running?
BODIES...The Exhibition opened in the fall of 2005 and has been extended indefinitely by popular demand.
Are lectures or other special events ever held at BODIES?
Yes. For the complete listing of special programming please refer to the SPECIAL EVENTS tab on the BODIES NY home page.
Is sketching or drawing permitted in the galleries?
Yes, sketch pads and dry materials are allowed at all times. On special "SKETCH NIGHTS" artists are also permitted to bring easels and chairs to assist with more extensive work. Wet materials are never permitted. For information on upcoming SKETCH NIGHTS please refer to the SPECIAL EVENTS tab.
What about parking, restaurants and other points of interest in the neighborhood?
BODIES is located in the heart of South Street Seaport, one of New York City's preeminent historic districts and tourist centers. For complete Seaport information, go to http://www.southstreetseaport.com.
Where do the bodies come from?
The bodies in this Exhibition are those of people from China who died of natural causes with no next of kin. Chinese law, like American law, allows that, after a period of time during which no relative or next of kin can be located, unclaimed bodies can be legally given to a medical school who then has permission under the law to use them for an educational or research purpose while seeing to it that issues related to dignity and respect are carefully adhered to. Detailed information about the identities and personal histories of the bodies is strictly confidential.
What is Polymer Preservation?
Polymer Preservation, the process used to preserve the specimens for BODIES…THE EXHIBITION, is a revolutionary technique in which human tissue is permanently preserved using liquid silicone rubber. This prevents the natural process of decay, making the specimens available for study for indefinite period of time.
How does it work?
Anatomists fix a specimen with chemicals to temporarily halt the decaying process. Then they dissect it to expose important structures. All of the water is removed from the specimen by replacing it with acetone. The specimen is placed into a liquid silicone mixture within a vacuum chamber. Under vacuum, the acetone becomes a gas that is completely replaced by the polymer mixture. Lastly, the silicone polymer is hardened. The end result is a dry, odorless, permanently preserved specimen containing no toxic chemicals. It retains the look of the original but functions as if it were rubber.