Metadata : Material relating to Gustav Metzger and the documentary 'Pioneers in Art and Science: Metzger'
Collection
- Country:
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Holding institution:
- Tate Archive
- Holding institution (official language):
- Tate Archive
- Postal address:
- Tate BritainMillbankLondonUnited KingdomSW1P 4RG
- Web address:
- https://www.tate.org.uk/art/archive
- Country:
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Holding institution:
- Tate Archive
- Holding institution (official language):
- Tate Archive
- Postal address:
- Tate BritainMillbankLondonUnited KingdomSW1P 4RG
- Web address:
- https://www.tate.org.uk/art/archive
- Reference number:
- TGA 200717
- Title:
- Material relating to Gustav Metzger and the documentary 'Pioneers in Art and Science: Metzger'
- Title (official language):
- Material relating to Gustav Metzger and the documentary 'Pioneers in Art and Science: Metzger'
- Creator/accumulator:
- Metzger, Gustav
- Date(s):
- 2002/2007
- Language:
- English
- Extent:
- 1 box
- Scope and content:
- Papers, printed material and press cuttings relating to the documentary 'Pioneers in Art and Science: Metzger' and to Metzger's work in the 2000s. Also includes a DVD of the documentary and a book of messages for Metzger.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- Gustav Metzger, who was born in Nürnberg, is one of the few artists this century to 'invent' a new art tendency, namely auto-destructive art. Although officially stateless, Metzger has lived intermittently in this country since arriving as a refugee in 1939. During the early 1940s Metzger attended numerous art classes, most notably those run by David Bomberg at the Borough Polytechnic. After seeing Jackson Pollock's work at the Tate Gallery in 1956, Metzger realised that sculpture, rather than painting, was the key to his future. By the 4th November 1959 he had published and distributed his first auto-destructive manifesto and exhibited, in a minimalist manner, six found cardboard forms at 14 Monmouth Street, London. In 1960 Metzger completed the first model for an auto-destructive monument, published his second manifesto and on 22 June gave his first indoor lecture-demonstration of auto-destructive art at the Temple Gallery, London. In 1961, on the newly built South Bank, Metzger gave his first outdoor demonstration of auto-destructive art. Wearing a gas mask, protective clothing and heavy gloves, he proceeded to spray acid onto nylon creating abstract patterns as it dissolved and decayed. In October 1962, Metzger handed out 'Manifesto World' at the 'Festival of Misfits', Gallery One, London and participated at an ICA 'concert' with members of the embryonic Fluxus collective. By October 1965, Metzger was the first artist to use liquid crystals in projected form and in September 1966, he organised the seminal 'Destruction in Art' symposium (DIAS), which for the first time brought to London all the major artists using destruction in their work. During the 1970s, Metzger continued his iconoclastic work appearing with Joseph Beuys in the 'Art into Society/Society into Art' exhibition at the ICA in 1972. More recently, he has renewed his examination of society's ills, such as B.S.E., pollution and violence, through illustrated talks and lectures. A new wave of artists such as Andy Goldsworthy, Damien Hirst and Cornelia Parker have received Metzger's theories with great enthusiasm.
- Access points: persons/families:
- Metzger, Gustav
- Subject terms:
- Art
- Art--Artists
- Access, restrictions:
- Open.
- Finding aids:
- Online catalogue.
- Yerusha Network member:
- AIM25
- Reference number:
- TGA 200717
- Title:
- Material relating to Gustav Metzger and the documentary 'Pioneers in Art and Science: Metzger'
- Title (official language):
- Material relating to Gustav Metzger and the documentary 'Pioneers in Art and Science: Metzger'
- Creator/accumulator:
- Metzger, Gustav
- Date(s):
- 2002/2007
- Language:
- English
- Extent:
- 1 box
- Scope and content:
- Papers, printed material and press cuttings relating to the documentary 'Pioneers in Art and Science: Metzger' and to Metzger's work in the 2000s. Also includes a DVD of the documentary and a book of messages for Metzger.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- Gustav Metzger, who was born in Nürnberg, is one of the few artists this century to 'invent' a new art tendency, namely auto-destructive art. Although officially stateless, Metzger has lived intermittently in this country since arriving as a refugee in 1939. During the early 1940s Metzger attended numerous art classes, most notably those run by David Bomberg at the Borough Polytechnic. After seeing Jackson Pollock's work at the Tate Gallery in 1956, Metzger realised that sculpture, rather than painting, was the key to his future. By the 4th November 1959 he had published and distributed his first auto-destructive manifesto and exhibited, in a minimalist manner, six found cardboard forms at 14 Monmouth Street, London. In 1960 Metzger completed the first model for an auto-destructive monument, published his second manifesto and on 22 June gave his first indoor lecture-demonstration of auto-destructive art at the Temple Gallery, London. In 1961, on the newly built South Bank, Metzger gave his first outdoor demonstration of auto-destructive art. Wearing a gas mask, protective clothing and heavy gloves, he proceeded to spray acid onto nylon creating abstract patterns as it dissolved and decayed. In October 1962, Metzger handed out 'Manifesto World' at the 'Festival of Misfits', Gallery One, London and participated at an ICA 'concert' with members of the embryonic Fluxus collective. By October 1965, Metzger was the first artist to use liquid crystals in projected form and in September 1966, he organised the seminal 'Destruction in Art' symposium (DIAS), which for the first time brought to London all the major artists using destruction in their work. During the 1970s, Metzger continued his iconoclastic work appearing with Joseph Beuys in the 'Art into Society/Society into Art' exhibition at the ICA in 1972. More recently, he has renewed his examination of society's ills, such as B.S.E., pollution and violence, through illustrated talks and lectures. A new wave of artists such as Andy Goldsworthy, Damien Hirst and Cornelia Parker have received Metzger's theories with great enthusiasm.
- Access points: persons/families:
- Metzger, Gustav
- Subject terms:
- Art
- Art--Artists
- Access, restrictions:
- Open.
- Finding aids:
- Online catalogue.
- Yerusha Network member:
- AIM25
