Editing Gustav Metzger (section)

==Career==
His experience of twentieth century society's destructive capabilities led Metzger to a concentrated 'formulation of what destruction is and what it might be in relation to art.'<ref name="ReferenceA"/>  He was known as a leading exponent of the [[Auto-Destructive Art]]<ref>Alan Liu, (2004) The Laws of Cool, University of Chicago Press, pp. 330–331.</ref> and the [[Art Strike]] movements. He was also active in the [[Committee of 100 (United Kingdom)|Committee of 100]] -  a 'named' member<ref>''Peace News'', 15 September 1961, p 9</ref><ref name="washingtontimes">{{Cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/2/auto-destructive-art-pioneer-gustav-metzger-dies-a/ |title='Auto-destructive art' pioneer Gustav Metzger dies at 90 |access-date=2 March 2017 |work=Washington Times |date=2 March 2017}}</ref>

In 1959, Metzger published the first auto-destructive manifesto ''Auto-Destructive Art''.<ref>Kristine Stiles & Peter Selz, ''Theories and Documents of Contemporary Art: A Sourcebook of Artists' Writings'' (Second Edition, Revised and Expanded by Kristine Stiles) University of California Press 2012, pp. 470–471</ref> This was given as a lecture to the [[Architectural Association School of Architecture]] (AA) in 1964, which was taken over by students as an artistic '[[Happening]]'. The Architectural Association published, in 2015, a facsimile edition of Metzger's lecture transcript.<ref name="aabookshop.net">{{Cite web|url=http://aabookshop.net/?wpsc-product=auto-destructive-art-metzger-at-aa|title=Auto-Destructive Art: Metzger at AA {{!}} AA Bookshop|website=aabookshop.net|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-07}}</ref> In 1962 he participated in the Festival of Misfits organised by members of the [[Fluxus]] group, at Gallery One, London.<ref name="anglia">{{Cite web |url=http://www.anglia.ac.uk/graduation-and-alumni/honorary-award-holders2/gustav-metzger |title=Gustav Metzger |website=Anglia Ruskin University}}</ref> Guitarist [[Pete Townshend]] from [[The Who]] studied with Metzger, and during the 1960s, Metzger's work was projected on screens at The Who concerts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/artists/man-inspired-pete-townshend-smash-guitars-gustav-metzger-pioneer/|title=The man who inspired Pete Townshend to smash his guitars – Gustav Metzger, pioneer of auto-destructive art, has died aged 90|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2017-03-05|language=en-GB}}</ref> Metzger also worked with Cream, providing them with light shows in the 1960s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music-auto-destruction-anyway-anyhow-anywhere-1073970.html|title = Music: Auto-destruction - anyway, anyhow, anywhere| website=[[Independent.co.uk]] |date = 22 October 2011}}</ref>

In 2005, he selected [[EASTinternational]] which he proclaimed to be "The art exhibition without the art."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/content/articles/2005/06/28/visual_arts_east_2005_feature.shtml|title=BBC - Norfolk - Entertainment - EAST International '05|publisher=BBC Norfolk}}</ref>

Throughout the 60 years that Metzger produced politically engaged works, he incorporated materials ranging from trash to old newspapers, liquid crystals to industrial materials, and even acid."<ref name="artinfo.com">Hanamirian, Jocelyn. "[http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/32397/gustav-metzger/ Gustav Metzger at the Serpentine Gallery London]." ''[[Modern Painters (magazine)|Modern Painters]]'', September 2009.</ref>

From 29 September to 8 November 2009, the [[Serpentine Gallery]] featured the most extensive exhibition in the UK of his work.<ref name="anglia"/> Exhibits included the installation ''Flailing Trees'', 15 upturned willow trees embedded in a block of concrete, symbolising a world turned upside down by [[global warming]]. He felt that artists are especially threatened, because so many rely on nature as a big inspiration. Metzger stated that "artists have a special part to play in opposing extinction, if only on a theoretical, intellectual basis."<ref name="artinfo.com"/>

Metzger was a non-smoker and teetotaller who did not drink coffee or English tea. He carried around his own supply of [[green tea]] and was described as a vegan in his later years.<ref>Feinstein, Elaine. ''It Goes with the Territory: Memoirs of a Poet''. Alma Books. p. 57. {{ISBN|9780714545424}}</ref> He lived and worked in East London.<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3604278.stm |title=Cleaner bins rubbish bag artwork |access-date=2 March 2017 |publisher=BBC News|date=27 August 2004}}</ref>