Artwork
Caves II
Caves II is a drawing by Gerald Davies. It dates from 2005 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Gerald Davies made *Caves II* in 2005 as part of a drawing series about exploring underground spaces.
Gerald Davies made *Caves II* in 2005 as part of a drawing series about exploring underground spaces. He studied old cave sketches by J.M.W. Turner, then visited real caves himself with a guide. The drawings came from his trips to places like Yordas Cave near his home.
Davies focused on the strange feelings caves gave him—darkness, discomfort, even fear. He spent a year drawing in deep potholes, clipped to ropes for safety.
Check out more cave drawings by Gerald Davies at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
Caves II is a 2005 drawing by Gerald Davies, part of a series exploring underground spaces through art. Inspired by J.M.W. Turner's cave sketches, Davies created this work after conducting his own cave explorations.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing captures the artist's experiences of the 'fearful sublime' in caves, conveying the discomfort, darkness, and fear evoked by these environments. It reflects Davies' attempt to understand and communicate the 'otherness' of being in a poorly adapted, potentially hazardous setting.
Technique & Style
Caves II comprises multiple small drawings on business cards, executed in a studio or domestic setting from memory. This format and medium choice contrast with the immersive, dangerous context of the caves, highlighting the challenge of translating intense sensory experiences into static, small-scale artworks.
History & Provenance
Created in 2005, Caves II is now part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection. Davies' process involved a year of guided cave visits in the Yorkshire Dales, including sites like Yordas Cave near his residence.
Context
Davies' work draws on the tradition of artists responding to subterranean environments, notably influenced by Turner's expressive and erratic cave drawings. His experience parallels the 'fearful sublime' associated with artists like John Martin.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Thomas Gerald Reames Davies is a Welsh former rugby union wing who played international rugby for Wales between 1966 and 1978 and was selected for two British Lions tours.
