'The Weight of Duty', 2014

This artwork consists of 19 wooden signs mounted on a metal rod. It was created by Anna Redwood who brought together signs made by soldiers whilst serving with Operation HERRICK in Afghanistan (2001-2014).

The artist identified the wooden signs as an object that served to remind soldiers on campaign of home and normality. The signs demonstrate the way soldiers linked themselves to places of normality in extreme circumstances and conditions.

Anna Redwood was commissioned as an official war artist by 7th Armoured Brigade (The Desert Rats) to commemorate their tour on the last major deployment of British forces in Afghanistan. She spent a month working closely with the soldiers deployed on tour between November and December 2014.