Emma Carlow is an imaginative multimedia artist based in East Sussex. Inspired by folk art from around the world, Carlow uses a variety of materials, including ceramics, printmaking and embroidery. While her work is always grounded in research, her love of make-believe is also a key component.
In 2022, Carlow began to make ceramic whistles, having been intrigued by them while she was researching folk art at The Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe. This sparked her interest in, and research of, the collections of international whistles at The British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Realising that most cultures have some form of whistle, used variously for hunting, music and festivals, or as toys, Carlow learned how to make her own, resolving to make one whistle every day for a year.
In other research, Carlow discovered medieval bestiaries, lavishly illustrated compendiums of fantastic creatures that were popular in the Middle Ages, referencing animals and birds. Each animal illustrated is accompanied by a description of its characteristics and a religious allegory. On the particular appeal of these bestiaries, Carlow notes, “Often the artist had never seen the animal in question and was working from descriptions from ancient Greek texts, which led to some humorous images and assumptions.” Bestiaries have since become a primary inspiration for her whistles.
365 Days of Whistling has been met with wide acclaim since two of the four cabinets which comprise this work, now in private collections, were exhibited at the Royal Academy, Royal Scottish Academy and Royal West of England Academy.