The Curiosity Cabinet at 171 Strand tells the story of some extraordinary research being done by King's staff and students using the physical and digital objects that have inspired or emerged from it.

FAKE OR REAL? – King's College London & The Courtauld, delivered by King's Faculty of Arts & Humanities in collaboration with The Courtauld, comes to The Curiosity Cabinet from 16 September 2024.

The authenticity of an image has a profound effect on how we interact with it. A painting’s artistic and monetary value normally collapses once exposed as a fake. A photograph’s political and social impact can be transformed by doctoring it. This show explores the threat and allure of the fake, from contemporary worries over fake news and deep fakes to masterful fine art forgeries that defied expert scrutiny. How can we identify the genuine? And what are the dangers and charms of the fake?

To read more about a specific object and the work linked to it, please click on the Projects tab below.

The Curiosity Cabinet is brought to you by the Faculty of Arts & Humanities supported by King’s Culture. Design by Alphabetical.