Written by Amanda David
On Friday 15th August 2025 from 5pm, the opening night of the exhibition from emerging artist Tom Van Herrewege will be held.
Located at The Florence Trust, Islington, Drawings in the Depths, a striking solo exhibition, will delve into the mysterious and sacred origins of image-making through the lens of prehistoric cave art.
Featuring large-scale charcoal works, this exhibition draws inspiration from the ancient artworks left by early humans within the depths of European cave systems – some located over a kilometre from the cave mouth. In these pitch-black interiors, risking getting lost in these caves and encounters with hibernating cave bears, lions, and hyenas, early artists lit torches and made their way deep into the earth to create enduring, enigmatic images. These were not simply physical journeys, but spiritual pilgrimages – acts of connection to the unknown and to the ancestors who had ventured there before.
What were they trying to communicate? Who were they hoping to reach – and why? Van Herrewege’s evocative drawings seek to bring us closer to these enduring questions, capturing the profound atmosphere of these subterranean spaces and the spiritual dimensions of the journeys made by early humans.
The exhibition runs from 15th – 29th August and all are welcome.
Venue: The Florence Trust. Cloudesley Square, London N1 0HN
Organisers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.
