WEIL AM RHEIN.- The exhibition “Rudolf Steiner – Alchemy of the Everyday” is the first retrospective on one of the most influential – and also one of the most controversial – reformers of the twentieth century. The special events accompanying the exhibition elucidate and probe Steiner’s ideas, demonstrate connections to current trends and tendencies in design, architecture and society, and trace Steiner’s impact in the Basel region.

Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925) founded the Steiner-Waldorf schools, inspired numerous artists and is regarded as one of the key initiators of organic architecture. His anthroposophical ideology called for the uniting of art, science and spirituality. Hundreds of clinics, bank institutes, farms and Steiner-Waldorf schools bear witness to the wide dissemination of Steiner’s ideas.

In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of this universal thinker, the Vitra Design Museum is now presenting the first major retrospective on Steiner’s œuvre. It encompasses a never before seen variety of his works along with numerous exhibits from renowned contemporaries such as Franz Kafka, Piet Mondrian, Else Lasker-Schüler, Wassily Kandinsky, Alexej von Jawlensky, Lyonel Feininger, Erich Mendelsohn and Frank Lloyd Wright. Steiner’s influence on subsequent generations is also examined, such as with works by Joseph Beuys, Olafur Eliasson and Konstantin Grcic.

Just 15 kilometres from the Vitra Design Museum in Dornach, Switzerland, Steiner created his most important work of architecture: the Goetheanum. Constructed from 1924 to 1928, the building remains the most important centre for Steiner’s ideas. In conjunction with the exhibition “Rudolf Steiner – Alchemy of the Everyday”, the Vitra Design Museum has developed an extensive programme of special events offering a chance to retrace Steiner’s footsteps in the region, take a good look at his contributions, voice criticism and seek connections to design and architecture of the presen