Edward Wadsworth, Sussex Bypass, 1937. Tempera on linen and board, 55.8 x 40.6 cm. William Evans Bequest, Bangor University.
In this ARTscapades talk, Hope Wolf discusses her new book Sussex Modernism and the exhibition she is curating that opens at Towner Eastbourne in May.
Spanning over one hundred years of art history, both explore how artists harnessed the landscapes, cultures, and histories of their locations to reimagine how art should be made and life lived. Sussex Modernism also traces a history of perceptions about art made outside of the metropolis, asking why modernists used ‘provincial’ as an insult and introducing the idea of ‘new regionalism’. Well-known figures are joined by countercultural artists of the 1960s–1980s and women artists whose power was regional rather than national, as well as the voices of modernism’s opponents.
Intertwining painting, sculpture, architecture, film, photography, textiles, literature, music, domestic decoration and horticultural experiments, this talk will present surprising juxtapositions and jostling perspectives on art, place, and politics. It will reflect on how research towards the book brought to light unexpected connections, between Virginia Woolf and David Jones, Ethel Mairet and Gluck, Duncan Grant and Arnold Daghani, Jacob Epstein and David Bowie.
Sussex Modernism is at Towner Eastbourne from 23 May to 28 September 2025. Based on Dr Hope Wolf’s book Sussex Modernism published by Yale University Press (8 April 2025), talk ticket holders receive a code to use for 25% off the book via their website here. UK orders only. Free UK P&P.
This event will be recorded. Ticket holders are emailed a link to view the recording afterwards which is available for one month. Proceeds from ARTscapades ticket sales benefit museums, galleries and other arts-based organisations and projects.
This is an online event hosted on Zoom which can be watched live with Q&A, or on-demand for one month afterwards. You will receive your link to access the event in your email confirmation and the on-demand link after the event ends.