Literary greats Pinter and Tolkien on the Gold Coast? Seems like the write stuff!
HOTA Gallery on the Gold Coast is set for the global debut of Writers Revealed: Treasures from the British Library and National Portrait Gallery, London, an exhibition showcasing the remarkable collaboration between two distinguished British institutions.
What would The Lord of the Rings creator J.R.R. Tolkien write to his grandson?
Actually, we know. And the reason we know is that his letters are kept in the British Library in London. Which is probably a bit far to go just to see some correspondence by the man who invented Hobbits.
But, wait, some of these letters will soon be winging their way to HOTA Gallery on the Gold Coast as part of a landmark exhibition featuring famous literary and art treasures.
HOTA (Home of the Arts) Gallery is set to host the global debut of Writers Revealed: Treasures from the British Library and National Portrait Gallery, London, an exhibition showcasing a remarkable collaboration between two distinguished British institutions.
Experience Gold Coast, which oversees the HOTA precinct, has announced the landmark exhibition will open on April 12, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come face-to-face with some of the most famous figures in English literature.
More than 100 rare, remarkable manuscripts and first editions and 70 iconic portraits will be displayed together for the first time. And, best of all, you don’t have to go all the way to the UK to see them.
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From the 16th century to the present day, the exhibition will explore the enduring legacy of writers across the ages. It will feature some of the most influential literary figures in history, including William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, William Blake, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, J.R.R. Tolkien and contemporary luminaries such as Harold Pinter, Kazuo Ishiguro and Zadie Smith.
Alexandra Ault, lead curator of modern archives and manuscripts at the British Library, says the iconic institution is “thrilled to collaborate with the National Portrait Gallery on Writers Revealed, a truly unique exhibition that brings together some of the most exceptional objects from our collections”.
“Visitors will experience rare first editions and exquisite manuscripts alongside celebrated portraits of the writers who created them,” Ault says. “The exhibition features over 70 authors from a diverse range of backgrounds, spanning 500 years of English literature.”
Catharine MacLeod, senior curator of 17th century collections at the National Portrait Gallery, says visitors will be captivated by an intimate glimpse into the personal lives and creative processes of these iconic writers.
“The exhibition features original and priceless manuscripts that reveal the thought processes behind beloved stories, along with stunning portraits that connect us to the individuals behind the words,” she says. “Featuring treasures that rarely leave our gallery in London, this major new exhibition will bring HOTA’s visitors closer to some of the most important figures in English literary history. Encountering these displays, visitors will discover what is revealed and what is hidden when life, writing and portraiture intersect.”
Notable highlights include those handwritten and illustrated letters from J.R.R. Tolkien to his grandson that echo his work in The Lord of the Rings, a diary entry by Lewis Carrol discussing Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Virginia Woolf’s handwritten manuscript for Mrs Dalloway, Jane Austen’s writing desk, and the only portrait likely to have been painted of William Shakespeare during his lifetime.
Co-curators Ault and MacLeod have assembled distinct objects from each collection that tell rich stories about the writers represented.
It all goes to show that there is more to the Gold Coast than filthy rich horse races and beachcombing. Mayor Tom Tate is chuffed that the Gold Coast will host what should be one of the events of the year on Australia’s cultural calendar.
“What an incredible privilege to host this rare exhibition – from London to HOTA,’’ Tate says. “These literary wordsmiths have sparked our collective imaginations for centuries. We now have an incredible opportunity to learn more about their literary craft, their manuscripts and personal lives.
“Securing exhibitions of this calibre underscores the emergence of HOTA as a real arts and cultural heartland for not only the city but the entire region.”
The dynamic 1000sqm exhibition space in Gallery 1 will be transformed for 16 weeks as visitors are immersed in the fascinating world of wordsmiths who have inspired imaginations since the reign of Henry VIII.
Yarmila Alfonzetti, heads of arts and culture for Experience Gold Coast, says she looks forward to “further cementing our position as a destination for world-class arts and culture”.
Writers Revealed: Treasures From the British Library and National Portrait Gallery, London, shows at HOTA Gallery, Surfers Paradise, April 12 to August 3.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: