( CNN ) -- A controversial exhibition featuring preserved corpses having sex opened Thursday in Germany 's capital . Gunther von Hagens ' controversial `` Body Works '' shows have traveled throughout the world . Part of his traveling `` Body Works '' exhibition , `` The Cycle of Life , '' is showing at Berlin 's Postbahnhof and features 200 human bodies at various life stages -- from conception to old age , including embryos and fetuses taken from historic anatomical collections . In one exhibit a male body is lying on his back with a woman sitting astride him with her back towards his head . Torsten Woehlert , spokesman for Berlin 's Culture Ministry , told CNN that there has already been a number of complaints from the public in the press , though none have come to the ministry itself . He said : `` As it is not against the law , only against good taste , there is not much the government could do anyway . '' Conceived by Gunther von Hagens -- dubbed Dr. Death in Germany -- the exhibition displays the bodies with their muscles , nerves and tendons on show using a preservation technique he pioneered called plastination . This process involves replacing all body fluids and soluble fat with specially manufactured plastics . On his Web site , the anatomist describes the exhibition 's purpose and goal `` to reveal and expose the anatomical structure of the human body and its function , in a unique lesson , and to teach us about the complexity of the human body , its anatomy , and the importance of leading a healthy way of life . '' What do you think ? He added that the source of the exhibition is from donors -- people , who during their lifetime , declared their willingness , by informed consent , to display their bodies at the exhibition for the `` benefit of education , health and the awareness of the wide public to the different systems of the human body . '' When asked about the coupling of sex and death , von Hagens told Germany 's Bild that `` death and sex are both taboo topics . I 'm bringing them together . Death belongs to life . '' He added that `` without sex no life would exist . '' Von Hagens ' work has divided opinion in the past , with critics often doubting his scientific motives and accusing him of shocking people to gain publicity . His public autopsy in 2002 for British broadcaster Channel 4 -- the first in the UK for 170 years -- received hundreds of complaints . The authorities also threatened to arrest him after declaring the procedure illegal . Von Hagens justified his actions as `` demystifying the post mortem examination , '' and likened the medical profession to `` medieval priests who would not allow ordinary people to read the Bible , '' The New Scientist reported .
Cycle of Life features various human bodies at various developmental stages . One exhibit features male body lying on back with a female body astride him . Von Hagen : Exhibition to educate us about the complexity of the human body . Von Hagens performed first live public autopsy in 170 years in 2002 for television .