I am based in Kautokeino in the Norwegian part of Sápmi. My art is influenced by the visual impressions I am exposed to in this environment — from Sámi culture to nature´s rough beauty here in the North.
For this exhibition, I have created two works of art inspired by the way ladders are built in our culture, incorporating elements from Sámi traditional clothing, still in active use within our communities.

I am fascinated by the creative solutions found among many Indigenous peoples, crafting objects that are both practical, beautiful, and sustainable.
Sámi ladders are built from a single tree with two trunks. The rungs between the trunks are made from branches from the same tree. The base of the main trunk is pushed into the ground, and the ladder is leaned against the structure one wishes to climb. One climbs the ladder in the direction of the tree’s growth. In this way, one moves with nature rather than against it—an action rooted in Indigenous philosophy.

The ladders are in parts covered with used elements from Northern Sámi gákti (traditional clothing), and with ribbons used in these garments. The textile elements can be seen as a means of claiming land, and of protection. Nature provides us with the materials, and our culture protects our natural surroundings.

I work extensively with used materials, whether they come from second-hand shops or from objects I find. I incorporate into my works what others consider as trash. What is discarded and ignored often carries its own beauty, whether it concerns individuals or materials. For me, a life lived has a value of its own.

My works are often created in collaboration with local duojarat / artisans.