Born and raised in Scotland, Jen Meldrum studied Fine Art at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, graduating with a First-Class Honours Degree. Her practice centres on the potential of casting as a medium in its ability to translate the meaning of an object through material and convey both a sense of presence and absence.
Meldrum’s work investigates how past experiences of sexual trauma influence the present, shaping the perception of the body, memory, and identity. Her practice illustrates how the effects of trauma can extend beyond the mind, manifesting in both the body and the domestic space.
Her installation reflects on our tether to the past, piecing together fragmented memories and becoming lost within them, searching for understanding and acceptance of the present. For Meldrum, the process of making becomes a way to navigate and question these complexities, to externalise the idea of self, and ultimately understand oneself better - though definitive answers can often remain elusive.
Through combining sound, film and sculpture, Meldrum’s work examines the ongoing interplay between past and present and invites reflection on how trauma can linger and impact our understanding of ourselves.
