Behind the Scenes: Writers Revealed at Home of the Arts
This month, I had the incredible opportunity to work on the Writers Revealed exhibition at Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast. It was truly a privilege to be part of such a significant project, collaborating closely with outstanding teams: art technicians, registrats, curators and conservators from the National Portrait Gallery in London and the British Library.
My role focused on ensuring the safe handling and transport of the artworks verifying that each piece arrived and was installed without any damage. This is a critical but often unseen aspect of exhibition preparation, and one I take great pride in. Each object carries not only historical and artistic value but also an irreplaceable connection to the legacy of some of the world's most influential writers.
Throughout the installation, I had the chance to work with many talented members of HOTA team from the registrars to the art installation crew. It was fascinating to witness the wide range of expertise that goes into bringing an exhibition like this together. Every detail was carefully considered from the best way to display each artwork, to the lighting design, the angle and inclination of certain pieces, to seeing each painting safely and securely attached to the wall, and of course, the security measures in place to protect these incredible works.
Along the way, I also learned some fascinating details about the artworks themselves. For example, the Portrait of William Shakespeare by John Taylor holds a very special place in history it is the very first artwork to receive a matriculation number from the National Portrait Gallery in London: NPG 1. To be in the presence of such an iconic piece, and to witness its careful handling and installation, was an unforgettable experience.
The exhibition features an extraordinary selection of literary figures whose words have shaped culture, imagination, and history. Among them are:
Jane Austen, the Brontë Sisters, Lord Byron, Lewis Carroll, Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, T. S. Eliot, Thomas Hardy, Sir Kazuo Ishiguro, Ben Jonson, James Joyce, John Keats, Rudyard Kipling, D. H. Lawrence, A. A. Milne, Beatrix Potter, J. K. Rowling, Salman Rushdie, William Shakespeare, Zadie Smith, Bram Stoker, Dylan Thomas, J. R. R. Tolkien, Virginia Woolf, William Wordsworth, and many more.
Being part of this process, from unpacking crates to watching the final moments before opening, was both humbling and exciting. There is a quiet thrill in seeing an exhibition space transform, knowing that behind every display is a network of care, attention, and expertise dedicated to preserving cultural treasures for the public to experience.
Writers Revealed runs from 12th April to 3rd August 2025 at Home of the Arts. Do not miss the opportunity to see this fantastic exhibition it is a rare chance to get up close with portraits and stories that have shaped literature and history
