The London-based Scandinavian artist is sparking conversations around ADHD and helping tell more inclusive stories
As an interdisciplinary artist working across a variety of media, from photography and moving image to podcasting and journalism, Nora Nord possesses a fierce curiosity for storytelling. Her work is playful, honest and emotive, and as one of Norway’s rising talents, she is creating a space for queer expression and sparking conversations about ADHD.
The camera is one of the most provocative tools an artist can use. Because the lens bears a resemblance to the human eye, through the medium of photography and film we are able to experience snippets of life as seen and lived by others. Fleeting moments of the past are made ever-present and permanent, and Nord’s work does exactly that, naturally and exceptionally. Every photo and film she captures feels honest and tangible, but at the same time, she directs with a sense of purpose and her expression comes in abundance.
Nord’s earliest recollection of being behind the camera all started on a family fishing trip in southern Norway. “My grandmother caught 10 mackerel on the line. It was so overwhelming and beautiful, and dark too, so I took a photo of one of the fish in the buckets,” she recalls. It wasn’t long until photography became a social activity. “I really started loving photography when I was 15, I would photograph my friends. I started photographing to remember moments I knew I would forget but wanted to hold on to.”
“Without knowing, photography became a coping mechanism for my ADHD brain,” Nord explains. “As I grew older and went to university, it became a way to ground myself in situations that were quite overwhelming.” After taking a class in photojournalism, she realised she could “bridge the gap” between her “incessant desire to understand the world and help people” and the art-form she had “fallen in love with”.
Diagnosis can often carry negative connotations, but for Nord, learning of her ADHD was a “ground shifting” realisation. The news came two months before she graduated from university. “Had I received this diagnosis earlier, I would have retained more knowledge," she jokes. "It was actually what pushed me to pursue art full time. I realised I would never be happy with a boss in an ordinary nine to five.”
Photo: Nora Nord
Photo: Nora Nord
Photographs often elicit feelings of passivity but Nord’s work packs a punch. For her, it’s all about channelling creativity to tell stories that encourage reflection and conversation. “For so long I studied the stories of others, but I feel I became an artist when I turned that gaze inwards to tell my own story,” she says. The result was her photo series, Queer with ADHD. “The series started as a way to connect with other people who had ADHD, in a time when I was really struggling with it – deep into the pandemic with little motivation. It became a lifeline to understanding my own brain more, how other artists function in a neurotypical society, and feeling deeply connected to others.”
The images capture individuals in a moment of vulnerability, often in their bedrooms, an intimate space of disarray. Piles of shoeboxes, bags of clothes, neatly organised poster walls and lush green plants shadow their unassuming stares. Some bedrooms are chaotic, others are clean. No one room is the same, but this is precisely the point. Using her camera, Nord’s series demystifies the stereotype often associated with ADHD by highlighting the underrepresented beauty in neurodiversity.
Photo: Film still from Exhibit B directed by Loyin Obunbusola
After a positive reception and with funding from the Arts Council rolling in, Nord turned the series into a podcast: ‘You and Me: Let’s talk about ADHD’. The series consists of conversations with artists, photographers and activists, exploring the idiosyncrasies of living with ADHD. Nord is currently focusing on filmmaking but she hopes to incorporate her learnings from the podcast into this field. “I love a challenge and learning new things, so film really fulfills this creative fire in me,” she says. “My interest in making films feels like an expansion of my practice, one where I can combine sound and storytelling to create something world building and transportive.”
Behind the lens, Nord exudes an eager pioneering spirit, and in front of the camera she is grounded in humility. “Being in front of the camera started with the self-portraits I made with my partner,” she says, referencing Heather Glazzard, who dons the nickname Hev. “We wanted to see more couples like us in art, and since we struggled to find this representation, we decided to make our own. As a very tall woman, I’ve had a fair share of sticking out and being visible in public.” For Nord, photography is a way of turning the gaze back around.
Nord is a strong believer in the power of collaboration, particularly with other queer artists, including her partner Hev. “We love making things together,” says Nord. “We have a very similar vision and our skills complement each other. Together we just make things happen.”
In 2021, they filmed Hån, a short documentary aimed at debunking queer stereotypes by spotlighting the Finnish queer community. The title borrows its name from the Finnish gender neutral pronoun. “It’s about queer, trans and butch people in nature, showing queerness outside the often implied club or urban setting,” she muses. The film was later exhibited at Luna Gallery in Helsinki.
“Queer and trans films too often end in tragedy, but our life is filled with so much love and joy. It’s important to show this too,” says Nord.
“Right now we’re working on our biggest project yet. We can’t say what it is, but they directed it and I was the cinematographer and editor.” Having previously worked with Coach and Axel Arigato to name a few, Nord's list of collaborators is only expanding, and the artist is full of surprises. “As for future projects,” she adds, “we really want to make a film in Norway. I want to bridge the gap between London and Scandinavia, and make more work in Norway.”
Her hopes for the future, where film and photography are widely accessible, are bright. “We need more marginalised voices telling their stories; more working class, POC, queer and trans artists. The most exciting change happens when new voices are given space and importantly money to make art.”