Artist CV
Dida Sundet is an award-winning interdisciplinary visual artist and scholar from Norway, now based in Perth, Australia. Her academic research focuses on the connection between Greek and Roman mythology with current socio-political debates around men’s violence towards women and traditional gender stereotypes. It specifically centres on re-coding women’s experiences of sexual violence in visual art and news media, exploring strategies for effectively countering the myth of the ‘heroic’ rapist.
Dida has an extensive background in visual and performing arts and has exhibited widely in Australia and overseas. She’s a proud neurodivergent academic who has focussed her career on feminist counter-media practices and exploring the complexities of sexual violence. Dida’s work unites aspects from her background in theatre, film, art history, and photography in both Norway and Australia.
Dida’s image ‘3 Sitroner’ (3 lemons) was awarded 1st place in the category for Special Night Photography, non professional, in the International Photography Awards, 2013.
“Isis” in “Portraits as self-portraits by Frida Kahlo 1948”, 2020, displayed as part of the MassIsloation Australia Project across NSW and QLD
Education & Training
PhD
Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia, expected 2025
Master of Visual Arts
La Trobe University, Bendigo, Australia, 2015
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fine Art Photography w/Honours First Class, RMIT, Melbourne, Australia, 2009
Diploma in Art Photography, Robert Meyer College of Art, Oslo, Norway, 2005
Certificate in Art Photography,Oslo Fotokunst skole, Oslo, Norway, 2003
Diploma in film production, Mediefabrikken i Akershus, Norway, 2002
Solo shows
2015
Tales of Transformation (selected works), Wolveschildren Art Space, Ballarat International Foto Biennale — Fringe program, Ballarat
2014
Tales of Transformation, MA Assessment show, Phyllis Palmer Gallery, Bendigo
2010
For Illusion Isn’t The Opposite Of Reality, Bus Gallery, Melbourne
Group shows
2023
The World of Photography, exhibition and book launch, Fotonostrum gallery, Barcelona, Spain
2022
The 18th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards exhibition, 3rd Barcelona Foto Biennale, Fotonostrum gallery, Barcelona, Spain
2021-2022
Mass Isolation Australia, Ballarat International Foto Biennale, Core outdoor program, Ballarat, VIC
2020
Mass Isolation Australia, Ballarat International Foto Biennale, displayed on billboards across NSW and QLD
2018
Horizon, RAW Australia, University of Wollongong, Wollongong
2012
Of Light (Yolk Collective), The Barn, Sydney
2011
ScanArt, 1000 Pound Bend, Melbourne
2010
ScanArt, 1000 Pound Bend, Melbourne
2009
Four Attempts At Disguise, School of art galleries, RMIT, Melbourne
Juvenarte, Galleri Ramfjord, Oslo
ScanArt, First Site Gallery, Melbourne
Siemens RMIT Fine Art Scholarship exhibition, selected works, Bayswater, Melbourne
2008
Siemens RMIT Fine Art Scholarship exhibition, RMIT Gallery, Melbourne
I love you but I’ve chosen darkness, RMIT Fine Art Photography Graduate show, Brunswick street Gallery, Melbourne
ScanArt 2008, C3 Gallery, Melbourne
LINK, O Projects Gallery, Melbourne
2007
ScanArt, Fresh Gallery, Melbourne
2006
Hysteria, Kerala Art and Photography Gallery, Melbourne
2005
Bløtkokt, Grafill Art Gallery & Blaa Jazzclub, Oslo
Recent publications
Sundet, D. (2025). ‘You Would Be Prettier If You Smiled’ [photograph]. In Your Body, My Rage, anthology, various authors, BDA publishing.
Sundet, D. (2020). Isis as self-portrait by Frida Kahlo (1948) [outdoor billboard]. In Mass Isolation Australia [exhibition], Queensland, Australia.
Sundet, D. (2021–2022). Self-portrait as self-portrait by Frida Kahlo (1948) [photograph]. In Mass Isolation Australia [exhibition]. Ballarat, Australia.
Sundet, D. (2023). Leda, Reevenka & Kvitebjørn Kong Valemon [photographs]. In L. Fernandes (Curator), The World of Photography [exhibition], Barcelona, Spain.
Sundet, D. (2022). You Should Smile More [photograph]. In 7th Barcelona Foto Biennale [exhibition]. Barcelona, Spain
Sundet D. (2020). ‘Self-portrait as self-portrait by Frida Kahlo (1948)’ [photograph]. In Mass Isolation Australia, p. 104. Ballarat International Foto Biennale.
Sundet, D. (2023, 9 June). Lest We Forget—countering the myth of ‘heroic’ rape. In R. Loney-Howes (chair), Work in progress [seminar], The Feminist Research Network, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
Sundet, D. (2023) ‘Dida Sundet’. In A. Royo & L. Vilanova (Eds.), The World of Photography, pp.80–81. Fotonostrum publishing.
Sundet, D. (2024, November). Lest We Forget—countering the myth of ‘heroic’ rape [paper presentation]. Australian Women and Gender Studies Association Conference 2024, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
Grants/awards
2022
18th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards, Honorable mention, You Should Smile More
18th Julia Margaret Cameron awards, honorable mention, Tales of Transformation
2020
Neutral Density Photography Awards, honorable mention, People: Other for selected works from the series Tales of Transformation
2013
The International Photography Awards,1st place night photography, non-professional, ‘3 Sitroner’ (3 Lemons)
2011
The International Photography Awards, honourable mention, ‘A Tail of Transformation’
2010
The International Photography Awards, honourable mention for the series Performing Metamorphosis
2009
The International Photography Awards, honourable mention for the series Down a Rabbit Hole
2008
Siemens RMIT Fine Art Scholarship, Finalist
Golden Key Membership Award for Academic Excellence
2003
Scholarship of 10 000 Nkr from Sandsvaerbanken for short film project in St. Petersburg, Russia
Film
2006
One+Two. Screening of hand-drawn animations at Horse Bazaar, Melbourne
2003
Mors Lille Ole, short film, dir. Launing Katarina, Mediefabrikken i Akershus, Strømmen
2002
No Surprises, short stop motion animation. Mediefabrikken i Akershus, Strømmen
