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Back in 2015, visionary and advocate Gustav Metzger initiated one of his ultimate important works. Known for introducing art that erases itself, Metzger had devoted his career to addressing global challenges from nuclear disarmament to vegetarianism. Through a short video message, he made a plea for a worldwide initiative to remember nature.

“I call upon you for your involvement in this international summons for a day of action to remember nature on the fourth of November, 2015,” he declared, inviting makers and thinkers to stand against the ongoing loss of living beings. “Our task is to help the public recall of the abundance and sophistication in nature … and by doing so the arts will venture into realms that are fundamentally innovative.”

The Creation of Remember Nature

In this way Remember Nature came into being, a day when cultural practitioners throughout Britain produced pieces to the ongoing environmental crisis. An organizer, who worked closely with Metzger in his later life, recalls his drive for action. “I sensed a profound sense of urgency for him at the close of his days,” she says. “My advice was – let’s not mess around. No need to pause for funding or for anyone to approve this. Take action immediately.”

A Decade Later

Ten years later, Remember Nature did not triggered the broad uprising across the arts that Metzger had hoped for, but organizers feel its influence can still be observed in movements like Culture Declares and Extinction Rebellion, as well as in how makers handle the eco-friendliness of their practices. For this purpose she is reviving it to mark its ten-year mark. Among the key participants involved this time are A Man Called Adam and prominent artists. Each has created visual art, made video appeals, and created artworks set to be presented on November 4, 2025.

Sowing Change

Interviewing Anya Gallaccio, she is out in a field in Kent, cultivating apple trees that will create a circular grove. Working with schoolchildren, her project is half artwork and part learning experience. She describes, the design and cultivation sessions have already included learning about measurements (calculating the planting intervals), biology (discussing the hereditary traits), and history (mapping the stories of how distinct varieties arrived in Britain).

A lot of the apples were picked because they’ve got funny names such as the other unusual varieties. We have one apple that releases scarcolored sap

“A lot of the apples were selected because they’ve got amusing labels such as the other unusual varieties,” says Gallaccio. “We have one apple that ‘bleeds’ red juice. Each has histories attached. The ancient variety was brought over by the Romans. The Flower of Kent is the apple that fell from a tree and hit the scientist’s head.”

Gallaccio wanted the children to be more thoughtfully connected of the environment and the influence we have over it. “To many of them, apples were just things you find in a supermarket, so I was prompting them, when they go shopping, to check the packaging and see their names and where they were grown. Perhaps it indicates Kent!”

Cultural Projects Throughout Britain

In London, one artist’s project on disappearance will involve participants exploring a major gallery on a quest to find the frozen formations that have been vanished in the past decade. All formations will be illustrated on the museum surfaces using invisible ink. Whenever one is found, a chime will sound and a reading will be performed to commemorate that specific ice mass.

At the same time, up in another location, a creative will be hosting a free exhibition about our separation from nature, as well as holding a shared meal, prepared with organic, local produce. In another city, a participant is sharing her musical project, in which community vocalists undertake a task to perform for vegetation in Newcastle’s Jesmond Dene.

Children’s Voices

Like Gallaccio, Cornelia Parker will be collaborating with schoolchildren – on the actual event she is hoping to fill a cultural venue in youth creations that document their aspirations and concerns for the years ahead. “Kids’ art are powerful because they’re not as trammelled as adults’,” she says in her recorded message. “The contributions of youth to the world is something distinctive and perhaps it can provoke a sense of responsibility from us all. Kids are unbiased. They have concerns for tomorrow. But it isn’t meant to be about fear – it should be about hope and making sure that they see a better world.”

Memorials and Memory

Another artist’s work also appeals to children. As a former drag queen, his avian project involves illustrating avians and then performing as birds – and for the initiative he is intending to tackle a local symbol. He is also staging a guided walk of the city, stopping at places that have been part of his long-term work over the last two decades. That ongoing series commenced following he experienced multiple occurrences of discrimination on a one occasion. As a reaction, Harfleet decided to plant a pansy at the location of every incident and record it – the project has since grown to cover events experienced by other people across the world. “I place the plants there but they don’t often last,” says Harfleet. “Apparently pigeons like to eat them, so they’re a very temporary memorial.”

He picked the pansy not just for the obvious reason – it has long been a derogatory label – but also because its origin is the French verb, penser, to think. “It was linked to a man who is thoughtful, and that, of course, is a negative trait,” he says.

The intention on Remember Nature day is to plant pansies at additional sites and also replant flowers in places he has honored before, all the while discussing with those on the itinerant journey about the occurrences and his recollections. “There’s been quite a few following earlier installations,” he says mournfully.

Moving Forward with Hope

He desires his work – and