'Miss Helen', South Africa's Foremost Outsider Artist

Thirty years ago the woman now recognised as South Africa's foremost Outsider artist, Helen Martins, committed suicide in a very horrible manner, swallowing a mixture of caustic soda and crushed glass in olive oil. Martins' could not bear the thought of going blind -- light being a central a great theme in her work.

Helen Martins was almost 50 before she started decorating The Owl House and creating her marvelous sculptures. Although during her life she was faced with derision and suspicion, the Owl House and surrounding Camel Yard contain over 300 concrete and glass sculptures, which visitors can walk amongst today. Almost all of the sculptures face towards the east, many depicting a pilgrimage to a suitably positioned nativity scene.

Read More about Helen Martins and The Owl House:
• The Life of Outsider Artist Helen Martins
• Photo Gallery: The Owl House at Nieu Bethesda
• The Owl House Foundation

^{Image: © Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc}