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Unfamiliar

A mysterious pink object in focus

Unfamiliar

A new look at the Royal College of Physicians’ collections

23 January - 28 July 2023

Our new exhibition, ‘Unfamiliar’, opens 23 January 2023 at RCP Regent’s Park.

The RCP museum is delighted to introduce photographer Theo Deproost and physician associate Debbie Jegede. Together, Theo and Debbie identified objects from within the depths of our museum stores which intrigue, surprise and delight them. Debbie’s clinical curiosity and Theo’s creative eye bring together the worlds of medicine and art, as they reinterpret items from our medical and fine art collections. The stunning results are displayed in the exhibition, alongside the original objects to highlight their hidden richness and beauty.


Theo’s photographs offer new, altered perspectives that challenge our understanding and impression of supposedly inert museum objects. Theo and Debbie invite us to approach these objects and images with a curious mind, to experience them in unexpected ways, and reinterpret them through the lens of our own experiences.

Explore the exhibition as part of your visit to the museum Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm - plan your visit.

Watch the making of the exhibition with Theo and Debbie

Unfamiliar online

Explore a digital version of the physical exhibition held at the Royal College of Physicians from 23 January until 28 July 2023 below.

Clear tube, widening at base, with a cap and a chain coming from it, on a pink smoky background
1
Mysterious silver and pink tone object.
2
A glass object, pink on a smoky pale blue background.
3
Dark blue oval shaped item on dark green smoky background
4
Two dark blue ovals with a see-through shape behind, all on a purple smoky background
5
Brown, oval item with raised designs on surface, on an orange smoky background
6
Brown, thin vertical item with orange window section, on a dark blue smoky background
7
Dark item with patterns on surface and a clear tube to the left, on a red smoky background
8
Spherical item with patterns on the surface, on a sickly-green, smoky background
9
An array of tubes on an orange smoky background
10
An angular item on a pale grey-brown smoky background
11

Exhibition events

Join us for a series of in person, online and hybrid events to accompany our new exhibition, Unfamiliar.

Upcoming events

  • Tuesday 24 January, exhibition launch (past event)
  • Wednesday 8 February, Museum Late (past event)
  • Thursday 2 March, Museum Late - featuring Theo Deproost and Debbie Jegede (past event)
  • Tuesday 14 March, Virtual exhibition talk - a curator's view (past event)
  • Thursday 6 April, Museum Late (past event)
  • Tuesday 18 April, ‘Unfamiliar’ art: drawing work shop (past event)
  • Thursday 4 May, Museum Late (past event)
  • Thursday 1 June, Museum Late (past event)
  • Wednesday 14 June, Photography workshop with Theo Deproost (past event)
  • Thursday 6 July, Museum Late(past event)
  • Monday 14 august, Virtual exhibition talk (past event)

Support us

If you enjoyed the exhibition, please consider supporting us. Every donation helps us to keep providing you with exciting events and fascinating online content.

To donate, visit the RCP’s donation page. Select the ‘other’ option to support the ‘Heritage Museum’ with a suggested £5 donation or however much you feel able to give.

Mission Statement

The history of medicine is the history of life and death, and we are all connected to it. Founded in 1518 by King Henry VIII, the Royal College of Physicians has spent over five centuries changing medicine and working for patients and doctors. It is our mission to engage, inspire and entertain people with the history of medicine and the importance of physicians within it.

Keep in touch

  • Royal College of Physicians  
    11 St Andrews Place
    London
    NW1 4LE

  • +44 (0)20 3075 1510
  • history@rcp.ac.uk

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Unless stated otherwise, all images on this site are © Royal College of Physicians, photography by Mike Fear. In the event that you are the owner of the copyright in any of the material on this website and you do not consent to our use of your material please contact us and we will withdraw your material on receipt of your written objection and proof of ownership. 

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