Recife, Brazil. 2025 is the 100th anniversary of Rudolf Steiner’s death. How does he live on in particular individuals? Mayumi Matsumiya, a doctoral student in comparative arts from Brazil, gives her answers.
Where has anthroposophy specifically changed your life?
Surprisingly, anthroposophy is what brought me closer to academic life. I had been struggling to find a research topic that truly resonated with me, and after a few failed attempts to fit what I thought were academic expectations, I finally outlined a project on Argentinean painter Xul Solar and his interest in Rudolf Steiner’s ideas. I was drawn to Steiner’s more scientific side, and scientific rigor that doesn’t stifle imagination and creation. On the contrary, it fosters them. Though my research belongs to the field of the arts, it still must follow scientific methods and be precise. One cannot rely on pure intuition—hypotheses must be well-grounded and find resonance in existing works. This mirrors what I came across in some of Steiner’s writings: even when his thoughts seem unconventional, he is careful and methodical in explaining their roots. As I now pursue my PhD, I’ve come to see the tension Steiner’s work faces in academia not as a barrier, but as an invitation—a chance to introduce anthroposophy to the academic discussion by using rigor, critical thinking, and conscious language. It was this blending of scholarly standards with a more spiritual, imaginative approach that led me to the Goetheanum and opened up new collaborations, including the opportunity to present Xul Solar at the Alma Humana conference and, among other things, to share with new audiences his little-known portrait of Rudolf Steiner, one hundred years after his death.
Contact mayumimatsumiya@gmail.com
Photo Nicole Asis
