Cultural Figures Take a Stand In the Face of the Climate Emergency: Planting the Fruit That Fell on Isaac Newton's Head

During 2015, visionary and advocate Gustav Metzger embarked on one of his last important works. Famed for creating art that erases itself, Metzger had devoted his career to responding to global challenges from anti-nuclear advocacy to vegetarianism. Through a short video message, he made a plea for a global day of action to celebrate the natural world.

“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 announced, inviting cultural workers to resist the steady eradication of flora and fauna. “Our responsibility is to make audiences aware of the diversity and intricacy in nature … and by doing so the arts will venture into domains that are naturally imaginative.”

The Inception of Environmental Reflection

And so Remember Nature was born, a day when creatives nationwide created responses to the ongoing environmental crisis. Jo Joelson, who supported Metzger in his later life, notes his drive for action. “There was a great sense of urgency for him at the final chapter,” she says. “My advice was – we must act now. Let’s not wait for funding or for anyone to authorize this. Take action immediately.”

A Decade Later

After ten years, Remember Nature may not have sparked the widespread change across the arts that Metzger had dreamed of, but supporters think its influence can still be observed in movements like artist-led declarations and environmental protests, as well as in how artists approach the sustainability of their work. For this purpose she is relaunching it to celebrate its ten-year mark. Included in the key participants involved this time are Cornelia Parker and Anya Gallaccio. All participants have designed posters, recorded calls to action, and developed pieces set to be presented on November 4, 2025.

Sowing Change

When speaking to the artist, she is on site in Kent, helping plant apple trees that will grow to form a circular grove. Working with schoolchildren, her project is half artwork and somewhat instructive. She describes, the planning and planting sessions have already involved learning about mathematics (calculating the planting intervals), science (discussing the genetic makeup), and geography (researching the stories of how distinct varieties came to the UK).

Many of the apples were chosen because they’ve got funny names such as the other unusual varieties. We have one apple that produces crimson liquid

“Several the apples were chosen because they’ve got funny names such as the Duck’s Bill,” the artist notes. “We have one apple that ‘bleeds’ red juice. Every one carries stories behind them. The decio apple was introduced by the Romans. The local breed is the apple that fell from a tree and landed on the scientist’s head.”

The artist aimed the children to be more consciously engaged of the environment and the power we have over it. “To many of them, apples were just things you get at a supermarket, so I was urging them, next time they were out, to look on the bag and see what they’re called and where they were grown. Perhaps it indicates Kent!”

Artistic Responses Nationwide

In London, one artist’s Book of Loss will engage visitors exploring Tate Modern on a mission to find the frozen formations that have been disappeared in the past decade. Every ice sheet will be illustrated on the exhibition spaces using ultraviolet markers. Whenever one is found, a chime will sound and a performance will be performed to honor that individual formation.

Meanwhile, up in a northern town, a creative will be hosting a public show about our disconnection from the land, as well as organizing a shared meal, prepared with sustainable ingredients. Further north, an artist is broadcasting her musical project, in which regional performers embark on a mission to perform for vegetation in Newcastle’s Jesmond Dene.

Children’s Voices

Similar to other artists, Cornelia Parker will be working with schoolchildren – on the actual event she is hoping to cover Cambridge’s Kettle’s Yard in youth creations that express their dreams and worries for the tomorrow. “Kids’ art are compelling because they’re not as trammelled as mature perspectives,” she says in her recorded message. “Young people’s input to the world is something distinctive and hopefully it will stimulate a awareness of obligation from each person. Children are innocent. They have fears about the future. But this shouldn’t be about fear – it should be about positivity and making sure that they get a future.”

Memorials and Memory

Paul Harfleet’s work also resonates for children. With a background in performance, his feathered initiative involves illustrating avians and then dressing up as them – and for the initiative he is intending to represent an iconic figure. He is also organizing a itinerant journey of the city, visiting various sites that have been part of his ongoing series over the past twenty years. This endeavor started after he faced multiple occurrences of prejudice on a particular day. In response, Harfleet decided to place a bloom at the site of each occurrence and photograph it – the project has since grown to include incidents experienced by other people across the world. “The flowers remain there but they are temporary,” says Harfleet. “Reportedly birds consume them, so they’re a ephemeral memorial.”

Harfleet chose the pansy not just for the clear connection – it has long been a slur – but also because its etymology comes from the French verb, penser, to think. “People connected it with a man who is reflective, and that, of course, is a negative trait,” he says.

The plan on 4 November is to plant pansies at fresh spots and also refresh the memorials in places he has previously memorialised, all the while discussing with those on the walking tour about the events and his personal experiences. “There’s been quite a few since I last planted,” he says mournfully.

Advancing Positively

He desires his work – and