We are proud to present two Edinburgh Medical School 300 showcase exhibitions at Edinburgh Futures Institute from September to October 2026.
Throughout 2026, the Edinburgh Medical School 300 project is marking 300 years of medical education at the University of Edinburgh.
The two exhibitions explore themes broadly connected to medicine such as birth, care, memory and knowledge-production, through physical and multi-media displays.
Umbilical Phantoms
3 – 15 September 2026, Anthea Bond Exhibition Room
Sam Sharma’s Umbilical Phantoms runs from 3 to 15 September, an exhibition of paintings and a birthing chair exploring embodied memory and reflections on pregnancy and childbirth.
The works stemmed from the artist’s desire to examine her own experience and reflect on the transformations and interconnectedness of pregnancy and early motherhood, alongside an interest in cultural and institutional attitudes to birth.
Sam Sharma is a painter, printmaker, and a medical doctor, who has enduring interest in the body as a site of knowledge.
Healing Histories Archives
21 September – 6 October 2026, Anthea Bond Exhibition Room
The second exhibit is Healing Histories Archives: Past, Present and Futures of Decolonising Knowledge in the Medical and Health Science.
The exhibit raises questions about how medical and scientific knowledge is defined, and whose contributions are considered.
European colonialism and bias have historically shaped medical and scientific knowledge-production, which has led to the systematic under recognition of contributions from the Global South, particularly Africa.
Through multimedia displays, Healing Histories will showcase ongoing decoloniality initiatives across Scottish universities and institutions, including efforts to diversify curricula, knowledge production and research practices.
The exhibition will also engage with local histories of science, medicine and empire.
Both exhibitions are free to view from 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday at the Anthea Bond Exhibition Room, Level 1 at Edinburgh Futures Institute.
Related links
Read more about Umbilical Phantoms
