On March 17 2022 Emma Carlow decided to make a clay whistle every day for a year. The whistle is an ephemeral item that links cultures from all around the world, making it the perfect vehicle for exploring global folk culture.

At first her inspiration came from the online collection at the British Museum, particularly the Mexican whistles, which were made for its tourist industry in large numbers and at speed, giving them a fresh and lively character. Carlow decided to take the same approach and the resulting 365 unique ceramic sculptures are playful, mysterious and curious creatures, grouped together in four vitrines, similar to a museum display. They are also all working whistles. 

As her whistle making year came to an end a quarter of them were included in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2023. The remaining 270 whistles are now on display at Meiklejohn in Lewes, alongside new works inspired by medieval bestiaries.