Calgary 1st city in Canada and U.S. to exhibit Body Worlds 'coupling' specimen
While many museums around the world have no problem showing visitors naked and dead human bodies playing soccer or doing gymnastics, they have yet to warm up to idea of doing the same with naked and dead human bodies having sex.
Body Worlds, the touring exhibit of cadavers preserved through plastination, has visited more than 100 cities around the globe — but very few have had the courage to exhibit one of the 'coupling' specimens.
Calgary's Telus Spark Science Centre is the first in Canada and the U.S. to put it out there, but they're doing it with the utmost respect to their diverse clientele.
What that means is elementary school kids on class field trips will not accidentally run into two deceased people doing it.
The couple, which features a woman astride a well-endowed man, are hidden behind a sliding door that only opens on weekends and after 2:30 p.m. on weekdays at Telus Spark.
"Our mission is all about curiosity and reproduction is a very important part of the human experience and the human body," said Ali White, who works on the education team.
She said the "discretionary" specimen has been popular among visitors of all ages.
"We've seen parents come with their teenagers and use it as a sort of jumping off point for the talk, the whole birds and bees things."
Racy specimen arrived in Calgary without warning
The coupling specimen arrived in Calgary as part of the collection for Body Worlds Vital, which focuses on human health and wellness,
But it came as a complete surprise to Telus Spark staff, said White.
That's because Body Worlds doesn't provide museums and science centres with a detailed list of what kind of cadavers they are shipping them. So you don't know what you're getting until you crack open the shipping crates.
"We had to have some conversations about whether or not this was actually going to become a part of the unveiled exhibit," said White.
She said there are four sexy couples that tour with Body Worlds — so it's likely Calgary is not the first Canadian or American city to receive the racy specimen.
"I am sure a lot of places opened it up and shut it right back down again."
While Calgary's coupling specimen does feature a fully erect penis, White doesn't think it's that "shocking" or "taboo" because it also captures the sweet moment before two lovers lock lips.
The pair are embracing and the woman is gently stroking the man's cheek.
But you'll have to take our word for it — because Body Worlds would not allow CBC to publish any photographs.
Body Worlds Vital is on display until May 31 at the Telus Spark Science Centre in Calgary.
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