Amanda Van der Helm
I am a mother, wife, and carer to my own elderly mother. My parents were born in Saint Lucia and migrated to the UK in the 1960s. I was born in East London and spent time with my grandfather in Saint Lucia as a teenager, recording his stories. Around this time, I became curious to research my family history, since there was limited information available on how Indian immigrants arrived in the Caribbean. The BBC documentary, ‘How the British Reinvented Slavery’ had a huge influence on me as a teenager, encouraging my curiosity and motivating me to find the missing pieces of my family history.
My work
I am a multi-disciplinary artist, keen to experiment with different mediums while giving a voice to the voiceless. I studied Jungian psychology at university, so my creative process is intuitive, exploring dreams, words and images that flow into my mind and form the missing pieces of narratives.
My research has been a journey to find pieces of identity. The surnames of my Indian ancestors who were transported to Saint Lucia were changed to ‘Coolie’. Despite searching for over twenty years, my correct maiden name remains unknown.
Uncovering the family tree has been inspiring. I come from a line of strong mothers, and learning of their struggles and resilience has made me proud to be their descendent. The absence of the female voice in the archives has encouraged me to use my own voice to share their stories. While it has been traumatic reading documents and hearing family stories, learning about these histories helps us to understand ourselves and the trauma that passes down through generations.
I am interested in decolonisation, raising awareness of these unknown histories, and supporting causes that work towards helping the vulnerable and exploited in our present day.
After completing my bachelor’s degree, I became an underwriter and worked in the insurance industry for ten years. I was very interested in the history behind Lloyds of London; in my free time, I would search the ship records, hoping to find the names of my ancestors listed in the records. I was disappointed to be told that passengers were listed only as nameless numbers. Meanwhile, I continued to create art as a hobby and to collect pieces of family history with the help of parents and grandparents. As time passed, I realised I wanted to follow a creative path. Now, I am using my archive towards a Masters in Fine Art at the Royal College of Art.
Photograph by @ziwur404
The Endangered Iguana (2023) Watercolour on paper 18.5 x 24.5 cm The indigenous Arawak name for St Lucia was Ioüanalao ('there where iguanas are found'). Later, it was renamed after a Catholic Saint, who gave away all of her wealth before dying a tragic death. Today, the Saint Lucian iguana is an endangered animal, threatened by invasive species on the island. Taino symbols have been used with respect and remembrance of this history.
The Painkiller (2024)
Illuminated advert from 1885, vellum 21 x 29.7 cm
Kwéyòl translation: “They beat the people and give pain relief to make them work hard. The medicine only suffocates the pain and does not remedy the problem. Nobody speaks up, they are terrified to. To forget the pain, they smoke and drink rum. Have faith in God.”
My Imagination (2023)
Hand-gilded photograph 21 x 29.7cm “In dialogue with myself, the words flow and my imagination awakes. Images appear in my mind, guiding me. Where they are from, I do not know, but they are real and help me understand my self and the world. It transforms me, I become a creator. Extraordinary. Giving birth… through my fingers.”
“Mama, they need to stop fighting and do more talking.” (2024) Dried herbs and weeds, watercolour, bio-resin, varnish
35.5 x 28cm
A collaborative piece with my seven-year-old son, this work is a discussion about war. Creating art with my son has been an inspiring experience, allowing me to see the world and make sense of it through his lens, while playing together and share our thoughts.
I Search the Truth / Mwen ka chaché lavéwité / अहं सत्यमन्विच्छामि (2023)
Turmeric on canvas with illuminated text 45.5 x 35.5 cm
Searching for family history documents has been incredibly hard and it’s been a long journey to find pieces of identity. I created this Sanskrit mantra to help others in their journey of truth too.
Colonised (2015)
Digital photograph
Mother (2024) Oil on canvas, with gilding
35.5 x 56cm
My mother was part of the Windrush generation, travelling from St Lucia to London to become a nurse in the 1960s. She caught spinal tuberculosis at work, and became disabled for life.
“In the darkness, you nurtured.
Invaded by the shadows,
your body in a cocoon.
Small steps followed.
Born from your inner scaffolding,
I feel your strength and love.”