Luma Westbau presents All of Us Together, the fourth chapter of the Hans Ulrich Obrist Archives – a tribute to the artist and activist Gustav Metzger (1926–2017).
This marks Metzger's first institutional exhibition in Switzerland in two decades, highlighting the enduring relevance of his radical work.
The exhibition stems from the decades-long friendship between Gustav Metzger and Hans Ulrich Obrist. Spanning two levels, it brings together significant works such as Liquid Crystal Environment (1965/2024), Drop on Hotplate (1968/2024), and key pieces from the Historic Photographs series, alongside previously unseen archival materials: handwritten notes, letters, documents, and approximately ten hours of interview recordings. The presentation is complemented by specially commissioned tribute posters, underscoring Metzger’s lasting influence on contemporary discourse. His artistic practice, shaped by ecological urgency and political engagement, remains as relevant today as ever.
The title All of Us Together refers to Metzger’s Extinction Handwritings series, created in 2014 as part of Obrist’s Handwriting Project, and also points to key moments in their long-standing collaboration – including their first interview at the Café Cosmo in London in 1997, Metzger’s involvement in Laboratorium in 1999, and his participation in the 24-Hour Interview Marathon at the Serpentine Gallery in 2006.
The exhibition honours Metzger’s lasting impact on art, activism, and ecological movements – a legacy that remains as urgent as it is visionary.
Curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist, Senior Advisor, and Arthur Fouray, Archivist and Curator.
