This nationwide day of action to Remember Nature was instigated by artist Gustav Metzger, whose work addresses climate change and its catastrophic effects.
Remember Nature, a project by artist and political activist Metzger, took place on 4 November 2015, with arts practitioners around the world encouraged to participate in a Day of Action to highlight the topic of extinction. Metzger’s call to action urged arts professionals and students from all disciplines to create new work to ‘Remember Nature’, addressing global issues such as extinction, climate change and environmental pollution. A launch event took place at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and at art schools nationwide on the day.
Metzger’s work, including his involvement in the Serpentine’s Extinction Marathon in 2014 and his acclaimed exhibition Decades 1959 – 2009 at the Serpentine Gallery in 2009, addresses climate change and its catastrophic effects.
“The art, architecture and design world needs to take a stand against the ongoing erasure of species – even where there is little chance of ultimate success. It is our privilege and our duty to be at the forefront of the struggle. There is no choice but to follow the path of ethics into aesthetics. We live in societies suffocating in waste. Our task is to remind people of the richness and complexity in nature; to protect nature as far as we can and by doing so art will enter new territories that are inherently creative.” Gustav Metzger, 2015.
Participants were invited to respond creatively to this call with work showcased on the Remember Nature website. Works by participants were also displayed at an exhibition at Central Saint Martins from 4 to 5 November.
Remember Nature is a campaign involving a team of partners, including Central Saint Martins in London and University for the Creative Arts, Farnham.
