Amsterdam-based artist Vera Van Dam (b. 1989) delves into themes of femininity and enigmatic visual narratives in her debut monograph, Dahlia. In September, Setanta Books shared this project with the public in a brand-new publication.
Dahlia reimagines cars, often seen as cold, practical machines, as spaces of emotion, connection, and memory. Through her unique perspective, van Dam connects femininity with the quiet, often-overlooked details of car interiors and the lives of the people who use them.
Van Dam's journey into art began after her studies at the University of Amsterdam. Choosing photography as her primary medium, she honed her craft at the Photo Academy and spent time as an artist in residence in Berlin. She later worked as an assistant to renowned photographer Paul Kooiker. These experiences shaped her artistic voice, which she now fully dedicates to her independent projects. Dahlia, as her debut monograph, offers a poetic look at themes that have long inspired her work: femininity, intimacy, and the mystery of everyday life.
© Vera Van Dam
"Dahlia is a flower, maybe a car, definitely a mother," van Dam explains. These words introduce a series of images that refuse to focus on the usual markers of cars, like their brands or exteriors. Instead, van Dam's lens lingers on small, easily missed details. Sunlight filters over a car seat's fabric, making it look like moss. The ridges of a burnt-orange interior evoke a feeling of warmth. These simple, quiet moments transform the cars into spaces that hold stories. Who sat in these seats? Where were they going? What memories were made here?
The portraits in Dahlia offer subtle hints to answer these questions. Close-ups of women feel like snapshots of road trips with friends, full of warmth and joy. Other images suggest destinations: one woman floats in water, hinting at a lake or seaside escape. Another shields her face from the sun while leaning against a rocky surface, evoking a moment of rest on a sunny day. These scenes feel deeply personal, drawing viewers into the quiet, unspoken connections between the people in the images and their surroundings.
For van Dam, Dahlia is more than just a collection of beautiful photographs - it's also a way of reclaiming something often dominated by masculine ideas. In an interview with Aesthetica Magazine, she shared, "In this project, I found a way to reclaim what has been hijacked by the masculine kingdom ... By focusing on both their levels of intimacy and anonymity, I realised cars are as personal and universal as the female body."
This perspective offers a fresh take on how we see cars. They're no longer just about speed, power, or status, as portrayed in advertisements or pop culture. Instead, van Dam asks us to think of cars as spaces for human connection. Her work feels far from the dramatic images of cars in movies like Thelma & Louise or Clueless. Instead, Dahlia captures the quiet intimacy of long drives, shared laughs, and reflective moments on the road.
Dahlia invites viewers to rethink the ordinary. The cars in van Dam's photographs are transformed from metal shells into spaces of nostalgia, calm, and connection. They remind us of shared memories, like childhood road trips, early driving lessons, or peaceful commutes after a long day. With her debut book, Vera van Dam has found beauty in the small details of everyday life. Through Dahlia, she reframes cars as places of femininity, memory, and emotional depth. This collection not only showcases her talent but also challenges us to see the world in a softer, more thoughtful way.
