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Anthroposophical Society, Anthroposophy, David Nash, Dornach, Esoteric and Occult, exhibition, Goetheanum, Imre Makovecz, Joseph Beuys, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, Rudolf Steiner
Looking through the magazines in the recently renamed Keats Library (now run by volunteers after Camden’s closure of the Hampstead Library) I happened upon the journal of the Anthroposophical Society which had an interview with the artist David Nash. I remembered I was meant to be doing a follow up post (my first post is here) on his year long exhibition at Kew Gardens (on until 14th April) and read on with interest. Apparently Nash had set up and help run a Steiner school in Wales and although not a follower as such he has been influenced by Rudolph Steiner‘s ideas and philosophy. I have for a long time been interested in Steiner myself without really following up on it, knowing merely (from my days as a teacher) that the schools run on his principles pursued an active interest in the creativity of the child. Now might be the time to have a look at his work….. Coming back to this I have been distracted by trying to sort out my ideas which is taking longer than I anticipated! I shall just put down a few of my thoughts so far relating to Nash particularly.
Anthroposophy, as established by Rudolph Steiner in the early 20th century, is seen as a path of knowledge and self development, bringing together the intellectual, emotional and spiritual; an awareness of one’s own humanity through a holistic attitude to human creativity and the environment, including the supersensible or spiritual world as well as the physical world. He said in 1924 “We have to grow together with the world.”
David Nash said in the interview above “Meeting Steiner’s work gave me the confidence in my own original thoughts. It affirmed things for me; where I thought I was on my own I found I wasn’t, it was part of a proper evolution of consciousness.” He sees his work as an evolving process and each exhibition or project is a new stage to be considered anew. As he says “I am a responding artist. This idea from Lao Tzu ‘Wait until you’re asked’ is similar to Steiner asking ‘What’s being called for?’ When I get an invitation for a show I go and feel for what’s being called for.” This depends on the location or site, particularly true in the case of the Kew exhibition.
By working with the material of the place itself Nash is drawn into the subliminal feel of the place. The memory living in the material comes out through the narrative of the events of the project. His earlier Ash Dome and Wooden Boulder projects also exemplify this idea of narrative, ongoing and although conceptual in origin taking on a life of their own, over time. The idea takes on its own life or moral authority. This does seem to tie in with Steiner’s emphasis on nature spirits, to be responded to in the natural world. Nash also responds to Steiner’s emphasis on the elemental nature of the world, earth, air, fire, water. His use of charring of wood, fire, as a natural process, reflects that of forests burning as part of the life cycle of the ecosystem.
Steiner placed great emphasis on teaching, giving over 2000 public lectures in the last 5 years of his life and used coloured chalk on black paper to visualise his ideas. Nash has used this visualisation method in his work. Several examples of drawing sequences can be seen above. Interestingly this pedagogical approach, was an aspect of Steiner also picked up by Joseph Beuys, another artist heavily influenced by Steiner’s ideas. Beuys often used chalk on blackboards and talks to put forward his ideas. Ideas on the forces of creative thinking and education as a part of development and indeed of social renewal are important to all of them.
Goethe‘s work was an influence on Steiner and his famous colour theories, including ideas on the psychology of colour, were one aspect taken up by Steiner who wrote “Natural science sees darkness as a complete nothingness. According to this view, the light which streams into a dark space has no resistance from the darkness to overcome. Goethe pictures to himself that light and darkness relate to each other like the north and south pole of a magnet. The darkness can weaken the light in its working power. Conversely, the light can limit the energy of the darkness. In both cases color arises.”
Goethe writes “Yellow is a light which has been dampened by darkness; Blue is a darkness weakened by light.”
Nash’s work Blue Ring is one of his few works using colour as a central idea: “an observation of blueness” as he calls it.
I went to the Gotheanum in Dornach in Switzerland, the home of the Anthroposophical Movement, some years ago, fascinated by the Expressionist style architecture and remember also some rather strange artworks and colour schemes.
Steiner’s architectural ideas have since influenced the development of organic architecture including the work of Imre Makovecz in Hungary, with recent followers including Eric Asmussen in Sweden, Christopher Day, author and architect for many Steiner schools but no longer working, and also Camphill Architects.
Many of his other ideas continue to be influential and some are still controversial. Biodynamic agriculture, a concept developed by Steiner has many followers.
The Vitra Design Institute recently held the first exhibition on Steiner outside the anthroposophical community.
Further Information:
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Rudolf_Steiner
http://www.kew.org/visit-kew-gardens/whats-on/david-nash/works/index.htm
Hi Diana, thanks for an interesting article and some terrific pictures. With regard to Steiner, people have been badgering me about him and his teachings ever since I moved to the Netherlands – this was back in the late ’70′s! At the time there was much more awareness and practical application of his ideas in Europe than there seemed to be in the UK. Still it’s only now that I’m actually applying aspects of the biodynamic method to my own growing. Suddenly, in light of the range threats to our food supply his ideas (not to mention the work of Maria Thun and others who used Steiner’s work as a starting point) seem to make perfect sense. As some of your other readers mentioned, we may finally be catching up with Steiner and his work – I think I am anyway.
With respect to Steiner’s perceived fascist leanings which one of your readers alluded to, it turns out that there’s still quite an impassioned debate going on. A knowledgeable but heavily biased argument (actually it’s more like a hatchet job) can be read here: http://www.social-ecology.org/2009/01/anthroposophy-and-ecofascism-2/
A (probably equally biased) counter argument can be read here: http://www.defendingsteiner.com/wc/archives/2008/03/is_wolfgang_tre.html
Personally I’ve read quite a bit about biodynamics and Steiner’s views on art and haven’t come across anything yet that seems in any way “fascist” so until I’ve learned more I’m keeping an open mind.
Thanks Steve. I had seen some of those links I think but thanks for adding them and adding your opinions. Steiner certainly seems to provoke opinion one way or another!
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That was an amazing exhibition of Nash’s work at Kew. We visited in the autumn and enjoyed it so much. He has a very special way of seeing, interpreting and working with nature.
I think Nash really developed his own work over the year too and he certainly made the most of his residency. He is giving another talk soon which I hope to go to.
Excellent post, Diana! Beautiful photography and most interesting text, lovely quotes! I like Steiner’s work and his ideas, I love your photos from Dornach – and I am a big fan of Goethe and his Farbenlehre. Thanks for all this fine links. I’ll go for a visit now.
Greetings from North Norfolk
Dina
Thanks Dina – glad you appreciated it. I hope you find more from the links. I certainly learnt a lot doing the research for this, from my fairly hazy existing knowledge!
A very interesting post Diana. I think you know that I’m a bg fan of David Nash and like you have visited the Kew exhibition twice having enjoyed the exhibition of his work at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park a couple of years ago. So it was fascinating to read about how he was influenced by Anthroposophy. I’d never heard of this movement and it’s founder before. Nice photos too.
I’m glad you found something more here, even knowing Nash’s work as you do. Thanks for reading and commenting.
always a pleasure to read your posts Diana
Very interesting post – it could be that Steiner’s time has come: he certainly seems to have a vital contribution to make to present-day ecological debate. Steiner architect Christopher Day (mentioned in your post) was responsible for the amazingly beautiful and spiritual Ffald y Brenin retreat centre in Pembrokeshire’s Cwm Gwaun.
There has been a resurgence in achieving the spiritual in architecture recently. I shall look up that one you mention – I might get there sometime as it is in West Wales! Thanks for commenting Ian.
Gorgeous work, & fascinating read – love the Goethe quote
I think these pieces are some of Nash’s most successful work. Goethe still resonates doesn’t he? Thanks for enjoying.
Hi. Interesting post. I like Goethe’s ideas on light and dark, and color. Jane
Wonderful array of thoughts and images – thanks very much, Diana. I feel that Steiner is a thinker whose time has truly come. His ideas, particularly around the whole person and their connection with nature, were far beyond their time. Sadly, his work has been tainted by accusations of fascist sympathies and euro-centrism. I guess we need to salvage what is valuable from Steiner’s view, in much the way that David Nash has done, and indeed Joseph Beuys did.
best wishes
Ian
A lovely and thoughtful post, Diana. As you might imagine, I am interested in anthroposophy but have not made any great study of it. In particular, I appreciate the quote, “we have to grow together with the world,” which seems even more apt nearly a century later. Really appreciate the exhibit pictures as well.
Karen
Anthroposophy seems to have things in common with eastern philosophies too. I really like the holistic approach which is something we are only appreciating now. I’m glad you can find something here too.
Intriguing stuff! I’m always torn when reading about Steiner, the magic/ pseudo-science stuff contrasts rather with the rational educational theories. It has however given light to a vivid array of alternative thinking.
Thanks Matt – I agree. Steiner has a strange mixture of ideas, some more appealing than others. It is difficult to know what to make of him as a whole.
I am not sure I am a Steiner, but all my nieces went/are going to Steiner-schools. Very interesting series of pictures.
Thanks Bente, glad you like the images. Steiner seems to have had more influence in Northern Europe and North America and, although the schools are not religious as such, I guess in Protestant countries rather than Roman Catholic. The schools are certainly popular in the UK, although I think many parents of pupils are not followers themselves!
I truly fascinating post, Diana. I am just in the process of writing about the Ice Age art exhibition at the British Museum, so I was interested in what you say about Steiner’s idea of nature spirits, to be responded to in the natural world. Most of the exhibits in that stunning exhibition reflect a people immersed in the natural world around them, in tune with animals and their spirits.
On a different note: are we moving towards libraries run by volunteers? I’m wondering this since I live in a city that is being forced to close nearly half its public libraries.
Thanks Gerry – I was thinking about the Ice Age Art Exhibition too as it is presented as the beginnings of a self consciously creative approach to art, in response to the natural and (conjecturally) spiritual world. I went to a symposium a few weeks ago which stimulated lots of thoughts. I will do a post on it at some point!
On libraries -yes we have already had cuts in London after fighting against them, and I did join Keats Library to show support, although with mixed feelings as I do not agree with the principle of replacing public services with volunteer run services.
Thank you, I enjoyed reading that.
Thanks for reading and commenting Anna.