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THE BACK STOEP
The backyard, known as the Camel Yard, is accessed through two doors leading on to the back stoep, one from Bluebeard’s
Chamber and a second from the Green Room. The yard, filled with cement sculptures and bas-reliefs constructed by Helen’s
helpers under her direction, can be seen as a concrete expression of the world she built in her imagination.
She drew inspiration from diverse sources, including books, magazines and souvenirs given to her by various friends and family
members over the years. Helen was particularly moved by Edward Fitzgerald’s version of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam and the
back stoep is dominated by figures inspired by this work. The back stoep also features one of the many references to the Mona
Lisa throughout the house and yard, a work she appears to have been particularly obsessed with.
To the left of the door is a crude mosaic
of a sun which appears to be smiling.
Beneath this benevolent sun a red-haired
woman swims upwards. The jealous sun,
seen from the Green Room, watches out
over the yard. It is flanked by a mosaic
owl, made from green, blue and brown
bottle glass, with outstretched wings.
182 FOR THE LOVE OF LIGHT
FOR THE LOVE OF LIGHT 183