The Weight of Uncertainty 1 & 2 were a personal practice, a private, internal response to two of the National lockdowns. These groups of vessels are historic bodies of work by Fliff Carr which are destined for a permanent collection. We are very fortunate to have WOU 2 in the window of  The Merchant’s Table when the Government has just lifted all restrictions.

The Weight of Uncertainty
Part 1
“After the lockdown directive on March 23rd 2020 I was struck by a phrase I heard describing ‘the weight of uncertainty’. I decided to translate this expression into a clay weight of 1 oz per day. 7oz in 7 days. I made a vessel everyday describing any feelings or information relevant to that day. I also wrote the date on the base of each piece”.

The accumulated uncertainty over the ensuing 103 days of official lockdown are visually represented in this collection of vessels. They are all the same weight, are around 3-5 cm high and made of white and black earthenware clay. The darker clay reflecting days of darker mood. I stopped making them on July 4th when so many of the lockdown measures were lifted”.

The Weight of Uncertainty
Part Two
“On January 4th 2021 a third national lockdown was announced and I returned to my previous project The Weight of Uncertainty, Part 2.

Once again I was using 1 oz of clay as the weight for each thrown vessel and I am making one for every day of this lockdown.

The accumulating vessels represent the passing days and the weight of uncertainty felt within them”.