The Reporter: February 1996, Vol.7, No.1
Surgical Photography Looks at "The Sacred Heart"

Few would argue against the notion that there is an element of art to medical and surgical procedures. But a series of photographs, which are soon to be compiled in a book and which were presented at a January slide show, takes an artist's view of such pr ocedures.

Max Aguilera-Hellweg, an internationally published photojournalist who started photographing medical and surgical procedures six years ago, exhibited what he calls a "photographic atlas of the body seen through invasive surgery," in his project titled "Th e Sacred Heart." The presentation opened with a reception and lecture on Columbia University's Morningside campus and was sponsored by the University's Postbaccalaureate Premedical Association.

Max Aguilera-Hellweg's photo of a pituitary tumor removal.

Mr. Hellweg's slide show featured close to 100 images documenting such procedures as organ transplants and procurement, penile implants, cosmetic surgery, the separation of Siamese twins, and neurosurgery.

Mr. Hellweg plans a book that documents more than 45 types of surgical procedures. Dr. Richard Selzer, author of "Confessions of a Knife" and "Mortal Lessons," has written the introduction to the book.

"Six years ago, I embarked on a quest to capture the soul by reaching inside the human body," says Mr. Hellweg. "In doing so, I discovered a way to immortalize mortality through the photographic process." A student at Columbia University's School of Gener al Studies, the 40-year-old Mr. Hellweg decided to change careers while taking the photographs. He is now fulfilling his requirements for admission to medical school.