He Created an Underground Fairytale World in Complete Solitude for 25 Years (20 photos)

Self-taught sculptor Ra Paulette has been working daily for 25 years in the desert cliffs of New Mexico, carving magical palaces. He finds caves of light sandstone that are easy to carve, deepens and widens them, creating a system of interconnected vaulted chambers. The sculptor covers the walls with exquisite carvings—each cave has its own style. Ra carries out this titanic labor entirely alone, with only his faithful dog as his assistant.

In the caves, he cuts windows in the walls and ceilings, and during the day, the sun floods the halls with bright rays. Ra calls his mysterious underground palaces "primordial sanctuaries," where a person, alone, can sense the soul of the world. He creates for his own pleasure and self-expression. And while he works, he creates a cozy corner for himself in the cave, equipped with everything he needs for life.





О легендарном художнике-одиночке сняли фильм «Копатель пещер» (CaveDigger), который взял «Оскар» как лучший документальный фильм.