Between the Inner Self and the World
Vlada de Nooij
Between the Inner Self and the World
Vlada de Nooij
Between the Inner Self and the World
Vlada de Nooij
15 June, 2026
Vlada was born in the former Soviet Union and spent her childhood across Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan before moving to the Netherlands in her mid-twenties. Art has always been a constant presence in her life, and photography gradually became her primary means of expressing her inner world. Working mainly with self-portraiture, she explores themes of identity, transformation, self-acceptance, and the relationship between the individual and the universal perception of the world. By stepping directly into the psychology of the moment, she approaches these themes in a deeply personal and introspective way. Her images are carefully staged and often draw inspiration from classical art, reinterpreted through a
contemporary and conceptual lens.
Through her work, Vlada seeks to visualize emotional states, evoke memories, build associations, and express quiet transformations—creating a space for resonance and dialogue with the viewer.
"Through my images, I seek to give form to these emotions and open a dialogue with the viewer. By leaving space for personal associations and interpretations, the work invites others to recognize aspects of their own experiences within the image."
My work explores themes of time, memory, change, self-awareness, and the search for meaning within an increasingly complex world. Working primarily through self-portraiture, I use photography as a way of expressing emotions, experiences, and reflections that are often difficult to articulate in words. My images begin from personal observations and emotional states yet seek to reach beyond the individual and connect to experiences that many people share.
Classical art remains an important source of inspiration in my practice. I am drawn to its visual richness, symbolic depth, and timeless exploration of the human condition, which I reinterpret through a contemporary lens. What attracts me is not only the aesthetics of the past, but also the continued relevance of many of its themes. Through symbolism, irony, conceptual elements, and carefully constructed imagery, I create connections between different layers of time and experience, exploring how the past continues to shape the present.
The passage of time is one of the recurring subjects in my work. Rather than approaching it as loss, I am interested in its transformative nature and in the quiet process of accepting change. My photographs often reflect on how people evolve through life while remaining connected to an enduring sense of self.
Memory occupies an equally important place. Not as nostalgia, but as a living presence that accompanies us throughout life. Experiences continue to influence perception, values, and emotional responses long after they have passed. In this sense, memory becomes a thread of continuity, linking different moments, emotions, and stages of existence.
At the heart of my practice is a desire to give visual form to emotions and experiences that feel both personal and universal. The awareness of time passing, the longing for stability during periods of uncertainty, the need for self-reflection, the desire to remain connected to oneself, and the hope that difficult moments can eventually give way to understanding and renewal are themes that continue to resonate in my own life and therefore find their way into my work.
Recent projects have also been shaped by the realities of the contemporary world. Uncertainty, instability, and the presence of conflict increasingly influence the emotional landscape in which people live. Having spent my childhood across different parts of the former Soviet Union, the turbulence of recent years carries a particular personal resonance. Rather than addressing external events directly, I explore how they are felt internally—how they affect one's sense of balance, security, and connection to the world.
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