Kurt Schwitters was one of the most influential artists of the early 20th century. His works were inspired by Constructivism, Surrealism and Dadaism. He also worked as a poet and commercial artist. Under the term 'MERZ', he developed a Dadaist 'Gesamtkunstwerk', made up of 'Merz pictures', 'Merz drawings', 'Merz sculptures', 'Merz buildings' and 'Merz poetry'. Schwitters was a founding member of the 'Ring neuer Werbegestalter'. Ostracised as 'degenerate' by the National Socialists, Schwitters first emigrated to Norway and later to Great Britain, where he continued to work on his Merz constructions.