Busan is good

Busan Museum, Writers Revealed: 500 Years of Literature and Art from Shakespeare Onward

내용

Busan Museum announced that, in cooperation with the National Portrait Gallery in the United Kingdom, it will hold the large-scale exchange exhibition Writers Revealed: 500 Years of Literature and Art from Shakespeare Onward from September 30, 2025 (Tuesday) through January 18, 2026 (Sunday), a total of 111 days.

This exhibition, held in Asia for the first time, will present 137 works, including portraits, manuscripts, letters, and first editions by 78 masters of British literature who continue to be loved across generations, such as Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Arthur Conan Doyle, and J.K. Rowling.

On the opening day, September 30 at 2:00 p.m., a special gallery talk will be held, led by Catharine MacLeod, Chief Curator of the National Portrait Gallery, who will personally introduce the background of the exhibition planning and five of the major works.

The exhibition is organized into five themes, examining the lives, literary journeys, and moments of challenge faced by representative writers of British literature:

• 1.In Search of the Writer: Words, Portraits, and Life – Exploring the images of writers revealed through their portraits, manuscripts, and letters, along with the stories embedded within them.

• 2.The Great Journey: Becoming a Master – Highlighting the struggles, efforts, and triumphs on the path to becoming a literary giant, including the physical hardships and publishing challenges overcome to bring their works into the world.

• 3.Oppression, Censorship, and Resistance – Shedding light on writers who confronted barriers and challenged political and social oppression and prejudice to make their voices heard.

• 4.Fame: Light and Shadow – Revealing both the brilliance and the constraints of fame, and the anguish of writers who sought to break free from the shadows of their iconic works and characters.

• 5.The Power of Words: Writing that Changes the World – From Thomas More’s Utopia to anti-war poets and writers who gave voice to women’s liberation and immigrants, the section introduces works that sought to transform society.

---

Major works featured in the exhibition include: Shakespeare’s First Folio (1623), published posthumously by his colleagues and being presented to the Korean public for the first time; Charles Dickens’ handwritten manuscript of Great Expectations; Arthur Conan Doyle’s handwritten manuscript of The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger from the Sherlock Holmes series; the 2019 Booker Prize-winning manuscript Girl, Woman, Other; and the first edition of Harry Potter containing J.K. Rowling’s original handwritten illustrations. These invaluable works will allow visitors to experience the spirit of the great masters of British literature.

The exhibition has been made possible with the cooperation of the National Portrait Gallery, as well as institutions such as the Blenheim Palace Library, Durham University, the University of Leeds, the University of Nottingham, Peter Harrington Rare Books, and individual collectors.

Admission is charged, with adult tickets priced at 15,000 KRW. Busan citizens will receive a 2,000 KRW discount for on-site purchases. During the Chuseok holiday period (October 3–9), tickets purchased on-site at Busan Museum will be available at a 30% discount.

For further information, please visit the museum’s website at museum.busan.go.kr/busan or contact the exhibition office at ☎ 051-610-7154.

Colin Crooks, British Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, commented, “This meaningful occasion to showcase the rich heritage of British literature and portrait art will serve as an opportunity to deepen cultural exchanges between the two countries.” He added, “I especially hope that visitors will enjoy the special photo zone in the exhibition lobby, prepared in collaboration with the British Embassy and VisitBritain, where they can experience the charm of British culture and create lasting memories.”

Jeong Eun-woo, Director of Busan Museum, stated, “We are deeply honored to collaborate with the world’s first museum dedicated exclusively to portraiture, the National Portrait Gallery, to present significant moments in literary history to the citizens of Busan. We hope this exhibition will be an opportunity for visitors to encounter the human struggles and passions of the masters and to feel the profound inspiration of literature and art.”