Jen Meldrum

Jen Meldrum uses her work as a way to bring awareness to the complex and profound effects sexual assault can have on the mind, body and space.

Jen's degree show installation visualises how the mind can build relationships between sensory experiences that can transport her back to her 16-year-old self.  Five years later, after experiencing a second assault and a period of inability to look after herself, the relationship between the forest and her room became intertwined.

Jen translates the impressions of objects found strewn across her neglected, forsaken bedroom floor into latex, plaster, and bronze. Latex, an often fetishised material, is used to symbolise hypersexuality, a way of reclaiming bodily autonomy. The containment of the objects within plaster blocks signifies the pressure to contain the mess, which overflows the confines of the rectangle. The bronze uses preconceived associations with the chosen objects to reflect the difficulty of completing tasks within her routine.

The hoverflies, a trigger for Jen, are made from the objects within the plaster cast. The sound, created in collaboration with producer Ben Clark, uses the vibrations of a sex toy manipulated into the buzz of the hoverfly. The film, shot at the same angle the initial assault was recorded, comments on the disconnection of the self during the assault.

Using the work to heal from the assaults, the embroidery captures the journey to embrace acceptance in her experiences and ultimately find peace.