«We need great artists»

Georgy Kavtaradze, born in 1942, is in charge of the Sophia Branch in St Petersburg, translates works by Rudolf Steiner and has founded Damascus publishing, also in St Petersburg. The senior lecturer for economic history at Petersburg University stresses that Russia «is wired differently» from the West.

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Stanislav Tatlok What makes one a modern anthroposophist?

Georgy Kavtaradze The first generations of anthroposophists had a clear awareness, a strong conviction and an inner core that I no longer see in the next generations. They used to embody anthroposophy, a process that was helped by the pressures they experienced in the Soviet situation. The members of the new generation have to overcome obstacles my generation did not know in order to attain anthroposophy. If they succeed, they will develop a strength that we never had. This is true for a wide range of people.

Merging with modern culture

Tatlok What is the mission of anthroposophy in Russia today?

Kavtaradze In my view, our task is to introduce anthroposophy into our modern culture whilst making sure that it will not lose its identity.

Tatlok What positive changes have occurred in the anthroposophical movement in Russia in the past twenty years?

Kavtaradze People understand that anthroposophy meets their spiritual needs and that one can become engaged in diverse initiatives. We have the ‹Mobile Teaching Seminar›, for instance, that takes place in varying cities and has been attended continuously for the last thirty years by ever new interested people.

Tatlok How could the anthroposophical movement in Russia be improved?

Kavtaradez It is going through a process of growth, but it needs to overcome its ‹book character›.

Tatlok There is a view that says that Russia, unlike Brazil for instance, will not be able to play a leading role in the next cultural epoch. What do you think?

Kavtaradze Who can look so far ahead to know how the world will change in 1500 years? Russia’s path is different from that of the Western world; at present it has to copy the West in order to hold on to its place in the modern world. People in the West are primarily guided by the intellect and they work intensively on the contents of spiritual science, which then gradually sink down into the depths of their soul. The same path, if pursued in Russia, would mean that anthroposophy would get stuck on the surface of consciousness without penetrating deep down. That is a big problem! We have to find our own way.

Tatlok Will the Anthroposophical Society retain its essence and structure or will it transform itself into something entirely new?

Kavtaradze It should not be kept as it is. My impression is that the main focus is shifting to smaller groups, where real life is happening.

Awareness of role-models in the arts

Tatlok There is a demand today in Russia for spiritual practices, often sought as a way of achieving personal success.

Kavtaradze Look at the recently published book Carmalogic, which has 840 pages. It picks up on the need for spirituality but does it from the elitist perspective of Russian and European society. Anthroposophy offers a number of spiritual practices in connection with karmic knowledge.

Tatlok Rudolf Steiner wanted to see anthroposophical art in harmony with the other arts. Is that possible?

Kavtaradze I am sure it will be, but for that to happen we need great artists such as Gerard Wagner and Albert Steffen.

Tatlok What is the role of art in the modern world?

Kavtaradze Art is seen as entertainment – it ‹tickles› the nerves, but does not run deep. That’s why it is fading away. But there will be role-models, we just have to see them.

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