Born in 1995 – based in Fredrikstad. Vilde Rudjord is interested in how humans as a species seek meaning in the chaos of the world through stories. In her artistic practice, she explores this need, and how old myths, symbols, and religious beliefs still shape our understanding of reality. Motifs like sphinxes and magic from the past may seem foreign, but they raise questions about whether today’s truths are really any less strange. Through painting, Rudjord approaches both modern and ancient stories, challenging established interpretations – such as the idea of the Garden of Eden as paradise. She sees painting as a kind of mental eclipse glasses: a tool that allows us to face what would otherwise be too painful to look at directly – whether it’s our own mistakes, structural discrimination, or the anxiety many feel about the state of the world.