Vanja Dimitrova’s Nowhere Somewhere- Exhibition of Photographs
Reception for the Artist on Friday, June 27, from 6 to 9 PM: Nowhere Somewhere, an exhibition by Macedonian born filmmaker and visual artist Vanja Dimitrova, based in Amsterdam. The exhibition showcases large-scale photographs, that blend cinematic imagery with immersive narrative, merging scenes of reality and fantasy, that invite viewers to reimagine the artworks, where each image unfolds a new story. Nowhere Somewhere is a haunting exploration of identity in a disrupted world, embodying an act of resistance while emphasizing the deep connection between humanity and nature.
NOWHERE SOMEWHERE –
A HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL EXPLORATION OF IDENTITY IN A DISRUPTED WORLD
Nowhere Somewhere is an exhibition featuring cinematic photography by Vanja Dimitrova.
The exhibition blends photography and narrative, encouraging viewers to reimagine the artworks through a new lens, where each image unfolds a new story.
Dimitrova’s work explores the fragility of beauty which lies in a space between reality and fantasy and is infused with immersive and mysterious elements.
The Nowhere Somewhere series features large-scale photographs that captures the in-between spaces, aiming to explore themes of identity, connection and resilience through evocative and cinematic imagery.
Captured in a dreamlike surrealist style, Dimitrova’s subjects appear simultaneously anchored and adrift, caught in an undefined somewhere while conceptually hinting at a possible nowhere, thus emphasizing the inherent ambiguity of time, place, and story.
Curator Natali Rajcinovska Pavleska defines Dimitrova’s work as a “deconstructed film book” encouraging prolonged reflection and seeing reality through this specific cinematic lens.
Macedonian born filmmaker and visual artist based in Amsterdam, Dimitrova draws on her personal experiences to explore themes of displacement, ambiguity, and belonging. Her work resist fixed interpretations, reflecting both the beauty and alienation of contemporary life and the resilience of those who move through it.
In a world increasingly seeking to diminish human discernment, Dimitrova’s work positions itself as an act of resistance, fostering a sense of hope and wonder while highlighting the inseparable bond between humanity and nature.
These photographs linger in the mind, not by offering answers, but by asking bold and intriguing questions.
text by the artist
Vanja Dimitrova is a Macedonian-born filmmaker and visual artist based in Amsterdam.
Dimitrova studied at the Audiovisual Department of the Gerrit Rietveld Academie and the Sandberg Instituut, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts. Her work reflects a rich cultural background and a distinctive artistic vision.
Her experimental approach involves cross-media techniques that explore the transformative potential of aesthetic variation and immersive visual storytelling. Set in both real and imaginary locations, her works focus on complex human experiences and the capturing of fleeting moments that resonate with universal themes.
As writer and director, Dimitrova is behind several award-winning films:
The multimedia film Alone Together, filmed during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Amsterdam and Hong Kong, won multiple awards including Best Experimental Film and Best Original Idea at the Alternative Film Festival Toronto, Tokyo Shorts Film Festival, Hong Kong Indie Film Fest, and Paris Lady MovieMakers Festival…
The documentary Locked Storms, shot in a women’s correctional facility and a psychiatric hospital in Macedonia, and the 35mm film Absence, based on a true story covered by a war photographer during the Bosnian War and the breakup of Yugoslavia, have both been screened at numerous international festivals, including the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival (France), Manaki Brothers International Cinematographers Film Festival (North Macedonia), Eastern Neighbors Film Festival (The Netherlands), ZagrebDox Regional Competition (Croatia), and Northwest Film Forum (Seattle, USA)…
Dimitrova has been recognized as a Berlinale Talent (Berlin Film Festival) and is also a New Dutch Photography Talent alumna.
While her art frequently appears in international group exhibitions, her unique vision truly shines in her solo shows. These include Nowhere Somewhere at the Museum of the City of Skopje, Replace at LAB111 in Amsterdam, and her exciting upcoming solo exhibition at Gallery MC in New York.
Artist info:
Email: vanjadimi@gmail.com
Instagram: @vanja.dimitrova
