In the twenty years since Melanie Stidolph and Mandy Lee Jandrell first met, the two artists have built an ongoing dialogue through their practices, returning periodically to exhibit together and exchange ideas. For this project at Porthmeor Studios, Stidolph invited Jandrell to spend time working side by side in the studio, using the space as a catalyst to explore new territories within their respective practices. The exhibition presents new works from both artists at a pivotal moment in their development, offering an insight into a shared creative conversation that has evolved over two decades. Their works create a dialogue that is both reflective and quietly subversive, inviting viewers to look again—and differently—at the familiar.
For this exhibition Jandrell created Still Life, a photographic series that gathers dreamlike, atmospheric images that hover between the recognisable and the abstract, occupying an uncanny space where forms slip in and out of clarity. Together, these fragmentary moments create a quiet, non‑linear visual experience that invites viewers to linger in states of heightened attention and perceptual ambiguity.
Still Life is a visual exploration of everyday objects and the quiet narratives they hold. This project focuses on observing the ordinary with renewed attention, transforming familiar items into subjects of contemplation. Through careful arrangement, controlled lighting, and deliberate composition, the work reveals subtle relationships between form, texture, and shadow. Each still-life setup aims to evoke a sense of calm presence, inviting viewers to slow down and notice details that often go overlooked in daily life.
The project examines how objects can carry emotional or symbolic weight and how their placement within a frame shifts meaning. By emphasising materiality and the interplay of light, Still Life highlights the beauty found in simplicity. Ultimately, the project encourages a meditative engagement with the visual world, demonstrating that even the most unassuming objects can become powerful vessels of aesthetic and poetic significance.
5 – 7 December 2025
A studio wide event. Over 30 artists
Porthmeor Studios
Friday 5th December, 5-9pm
Saturday 6th December, 11am – 2pm
Back Road West, St Ives TR26 1NG
Porthmeor & Trewarveneth studio holders will open their studios with invited artists to coincide with openings at Tate St Ives and Newlyn Gallery & The Exchange.
Poster designed by Simon Bayliss.
