HASTINGS.- Curator James Russell is a man on a mission. A passionate advocate of 20th century British art, he has chosen more than a hundred works, spanning a hundred years, by a hundred different artists. Century: 100 Modern British Artists (23 October 2016 – 8 January 2017), isn't just the most-wide ranging Modern British show in years, it's an adventure in art - by turns funny and moving, quiet and boisterous, technically dazzling and delightfully simple.

Century, at Jerwood Gallery in Hastings, brings together 100 artists from two of the country’s finest private collections of 20th century British art, the Ingram Collection and Jerwood Collection.

“I have selected what I feel to be the strongest works from each collection, focusing particularly on artists of historical importance and/or those who are well represented in one or both collections. I hope people will come away feeling that Modern British art is lively and fun!” says Russell.

This gallery wide exhibition features paintings, drawings and sculptures by some of the giants of British art. Highlights of the exhibition include Dame Elisabeth Frink’s Walking Madonna, Sir Eduardo Paolozzi’s 1988 self-portrait sculpture, the delightful A Curious Cat by Ruskin Spear RA and David Hockney’s My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean.

Russell’s exhibition doesn’t just reflect the superstars of 20th century British art as individuals, but also explores the movements and groups to which they belonged; with a room devoted to the Pop Art and collages of John Piper, Gerald Laing and Sir Anthony Caro.

Women artists are represented with works by Dame Laura Knight, Mary Fedden, Eileen Agar, Rose Wylie and Dod Procter given co-starring roles amongst the box office draws of Dame Elisabeth Frink and Dame Barbara Hepworth. In the case of Hepworth, her reputation is enjoying a renaissance and Century gives Jerwood Gallery visitors a chance to see why.

Century also includes works drawn from local artists, as Jerwood Gallery Director Liz Gilmore explains: “We are particularly pleased to be displaying outstanding works by so many artists who lived and worked in East Sussex: including, John Armstrong, Frank Brangwyn, John Bratby, Edward Burra, Eric Gill and Eric Ravilious.”

The visitor’s ‘tour’ of a dynamic 100 years of incredible creative output ends, as James promises, “with something a bit crazy, [that will] send people away with the feeling that they’ve had an adventure.”

Visitors can expect some dramatic contrasts in scale and one or two quirky pictures: like Dora Carrington’s charming portrait Iris Tree on a Horse realised in oil, ink, silver foil and mixed media on glass (see above). Russell brings several quirky oddities to Century, from Mark Gertler’s 1914 The Doll painting to John Armstrong’s soft pastel-coloured Fish in a Landscape.

Asked why the new exhibition will appeal to a wider audience, other than the Modern art cognoscenti, Gilmore says: “Century offers our visitors the opportunity to experience the inventiveness, emotional range and beauty of Modern British art through the lens of the Jerwood and Ingram collections. Century is an important historic show for Modern British art. But also, it marks an important moment for philanthropy in England, bringing together two, regionally based private collections.”

While Russell is keen to emphasise the playful nature of British artists throughout the 20th century: “The exhibition is wide-ranging and fun, with some lovely works by famous names and also pieces that will be less familiar. I hope we'll show people that 20th century British art is exuberant and surprising!”

Alan Grieve, Chairman of Jerwood Foundation, says “It gives me great pleasure to see this exhibition being realised. Chris Ingram has been a friend for many years and to have this joint exhibition at Jerwood Gallery will not only draw a wide audience, but also give us the opportunity to share our collections, and the pleasure they afford us, with our visitors.”

Chris Ingram added “In future, I hope that people look back on Century and see it as an historic show for Modern British Art. When was the last time 100 artists from this important but unappreciated period were on show together? I’m particularly pleased to be showing the works at Jerwood Gallery, because it is the perfect space to show the art to its greatest effect.”