Writers unmasked: Shakespeare and friends on the Gold Coast
An extraordinary exhibition featuring portraits of some of English literature’s most famous writers – along with manuscripts and other ephemera – is now on show at HOTA Gallery on the Gold Coast.
In a world-first exhibition, some of the most treasured manuscripts and iconic portraits of British literary giants have arrived on the Gold Coast for the exhibition Writers Revealed: Treasures from the British Library and National Portrait Gallery, London, now open at HOTA Gallery, Surfers Paradise.
This landmark exhibition invites audiences to step inside the worlds of literary legends such as William Blake, Jane Austen, JRR Tolkien, Lord Byron and Salman Rushdie, among many others.
Curated in collaboration with prominent London institutions, the British Library and National Portrait Gallery, Writers Revealed showcases more than 100 literary artefacts and stunning portraits offering rare insights into the minds and lives of some of history’s most celebrated writers.
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate says hosting this exhibition is “further proof HOTA is coming-of-age, evolving as a destination locals and visitors can feel extremely proud of”.
Featured artefacts include a draft of Dracula by Bram Stoker, John Milton’s publishing contract for Paradise Lost and letters from Zadie Smith and Kazuo Ishiguro. Among the portraits on show is the only painting of Shakespeare made in his lifetime and a portrait of Jane Austen drawn by her sister.
‘To stand before Shakespeare’s portrait or see the handwritten drafts of literary masterpieces is a profound and inspiring experience’
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Structured across five thematic sections, the exhibition explores 500 years of authorship, delving deeper into the lives of some of the best-known English language writers through their original works and portraits.
Yarmila Alfonzetti, head of arts and culture, Experience Gold Coast, says the exhibition is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Australian audiences.
“Writers Revealed is a major coup for the Gold Coast, marking the first time these extraordinary works have been shown together outside of the UK. To stand before Shakespeare’s portrait or see the handwritten drafts of literary masterpieces is a profound and inspiring experience. We’re inviting visitors to lose themselves in the words, ideas and creative genius of some of the greatest writers of all time.”
Alexandra Ault, lead curator of modern archives and manuscripts at the British Library, says visitors to HOTA Gallery will experience exquisite manuscripts and literary objects alongside the celebrated portraits of the writers who created them.
“I am excited to see these incredible items on display on Queensland’s Gold Coast and hope visitors enjoy gaining new insights into some of the most influential writers who helped shape 500 years of English literature,” Ault says.
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William Shakespeare, associated with John Taylor, circa 1610 © National Portrait Gallery, London
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Harold Pinter by Justin Mortimer, oil on canvas, 1992 © National Portrait Gallery, London
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Beatrix Potter by Delmar Harmood Banner, oil on canvas, 1938 © National Portrait Gallery, London
Catharine MacLeod, senior curator of 17th century collections at the National Portrait Gallery says this unprecedented collaboration between the National Portrait Gallery and the British Library features world-famous treasures from both collections that rarely leave London.
“We are thrilled to be able to bring these wonderful portraits and literary works to this extraordinary venue in such a beautiful part of Australia,” MacLeod says. “It is a privilege to share our enthusiasm for these authors with visitors to HOTA. We hope that they enjoy this opportunity to meet old literary friends and make new ones.”
Events featured in the programming include HOTA’s very own Picnic at Pemberley, which will come to life for a Regency-inspired outdoor experience on the outdoor stage lawn, with a takeover by The Abbey Museum. Bringing the romance of Jane Austen’s world to life, the event will invite guests to step back in time for an elegant afternoon of literary nostalgia.
In Conversation events over the four-month exhibition will include David Burton discussing the routines of writers and the much-anticipated In Conversation with podcasters Leigh Sales and Annabel Crabb, as they take a deep dive to reveal their personal reflections and musings of writing, stories and authors. They will discuss everything from the literature they love, the stories they get lost in, the authors that inspired them and books that had the most profound impact on them.
For those looking to linger a little longer, take a culinary journey at the gallery’s three-hatted restaurant, Palette, where you can indulge in a six-course tasting menu with wine pairing. The menu has been crafted in response to the remarkable works and highlights some of the most whimsical pieces with influence from Jane Austen, Lewis Carroll, Virginia Woolf and J.R.R Tolkien.
The Palette terrace will come alive for the duration of the exhibition with a garden-inspired Perrier Jouet activation. Champagne from the Perrier Jouet champagne house in Epernay will feature alongside a freshly relaunched high tea menu with English classics as they’ve never been seen before.
Writers Revealed: Treasures from the British Library and National Portrait Gallery, London, continues at HOTA Gallery, Surfers Paradise, until August 3. Tickets from $19.