Projects

A Tender Heart

EXHIBITION| Falmouth MA final show (2023)

This body of work explored salvaged wood, including old tables, scraps of plywood, and reclaimed pallets. The initial process was straightforward: I began by removing stains, mending cuts and bruises, and familiarizing myself with the new material. Each piece of wood I came across was distinct, much like every individual is unique, carrying its own quirks, mysteries, fragilities, and strengths.

Within me existed an internal cosmos populated by my own peculiar characters and stories. The Wild Ones may have appeared eerie at first, but they possessed incredibly deep and tender souls. Mama was a maternal figure who dreamed of the ability to fly. All of these characters were, in a way, fragments of myself. After reclaiming the wood, I began carving these characters into it.

"A Tender Heart" represented a collection of work that delved into these characters and stories while simultaneously honoring the wood from which they emerged. The act of creating served as a healing process for me, acting as an empathetic gateway to both myself and the world that surrounded me.

PLANQUE

EXHIBITION | London (2023)

The body of work 'Bud', was created during my artist residency at PADA Studios. I showcased this body of work through interventions within Planque's restaurant space, accompanied by a reading of my short stories.

Exhibition Text

‘Fuelled by her vivid, infectious imagination, Zoet is known for her storytelling ability – an interdisciplinary practice that conjures entire worlds and the characters that inhabit them. Her work is underpinned by narrative, and mediated through drawing, writing, singing, installations or performances: “I simply write fables and then make art about them; it helps me process my emotions and thoughts”. This exhibition takes Bud (2022) as the catalyst in curating a series of interventions, including a site-specific live drawing showcase, artist dinner, and workshop, all aligning with Planque’s ideology to “explore slower and more intentional ways to eat and drink”.

In response to the residencies’ abandoned surroundings and toxic parkland, the character of Bud comes to life. Here, the artist tests the parameters of her practice, constantly searching for new processes of making: fabrics dyed with natural pigment, hand-carved wood, and repurposing materials salvaged from local landfills. “The work speaks of the magic and beauty that lies beneath the thin crust of our busy lives, to find wonder in the familiar.” Bud’s journey explores our collective and imposed disengagement from nature and instinctive longing for it. The narrative grapples with discussions around mass production and craft, the artificial and natural, destruction and transformation – ultimately, the transformative power of creativity.’

BUD

EXHIBITION | PADA studios, Portugal (2022)

This body of work was created in an industrial town in Barreiro, Portugal. I was tasked with responding to the restricted and toxic area within the park. I wrote a story titled "Bud" about a crayon factory worker with a passion for creating floral headdresses. The work delves into internal and external conflicts, including those between mass production and craftsmanship, the artificial and the natural, and destruction and transformation. The materials I used were sourced from salvaged waste collected from nearby rubbish dumps. Fabrics were dyed with natural pigments, and wood was charred using a wood burner. From my perspective as an artist, this work conveys the magic and beauty that lie beneath the thin crust of our busy, consumerist modern world, inviting viewers to pause and contemplate.

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great rivers

EXHIBITION | Adidas Studios, London (2022)

I was selected as Adidas's resident artist to create a body of work inspired by how the natural world can benefit mental and physical health. I produced a three-part series titled 'Great Rivers,' drawing inspiration from my love for wild swimming, which was exhibited at Adidas Brick Land Studios.

KIMI X ADIDAS

PUBLIC ARTWORK | Adidas Studios, London (2022)

Commissioned to create an Ocean Scape for Adidas's 'Run For The Oceans' campaign, an event dedicated to raising awareness about oceanic waste.

I’M GONNA STEAL MY F***ING HEART BACK!

EXHIBITION | Waterton Gallery, London (2021)

Exhibition Text

'Kimi Zoet's solo show, 'I'm gonna steal my f***ing heart back!', is rich in storytelling, populated by make-believe characters, and vibrant in color. The artist's wild imagination, combined with her desire to depict both herself and the people she encounters, results in a collection of illustrative and autobiographical artworks.

Zoet employs a variety of materials, often working with mediums that allow her to create art as quickly as possible. She explains, 'For me, making art is like chasing thoughts; it must be done urgently before they disappear and are forgotten.'

Within the body of work produced for the show, you'll encounter talking lightbulbs, angels, pineapple people, and nomadic travelers. These characters inhabit Zoet's imagination and assist her in navigating the complex, ever-shifting world we live in.’

FLOWERS OF THE UNDERGROUND

PUBLIC ARTWORK | East Village, London (2021)

The artworks tell the story of 'Flowers of the Underground.' 'Flowers of the Underground' is a tale I wrote in which the London Underground becomes overgrown with flowers, transforming into the world's most iconic florist.

'They planted their seeds throughout the London Underground, which miraculously blossomed into a profusion of flowers. As years passed, they continued to grow until the underground was enveloped in greenery and color. News of this wonder, where plants thrived in the absence of light, spread across the globe. Eventually, the London Underground evolved into the world's most opulent and diverse florist.

HOUSES OF HARMONY

PUBLIC ARTWORK | Nabil Nahar Memorial installation | Cranleigh School (2021)

"The memorial piece Kimi created celebrates the communities Nabil was a part of, illustrated through an abundance of flowers placed in Islamic vases. Kimi chose each flower to symbolize a specific community Nabil devoted his life to. These flowers include Alstroemeria, symbolizing friendship; Hibiscuses, symbolizing Malaysia; Red Roses, symbolizing England; Tulips, symbolizing Islamic faith; and Bluebells, symbolizing family. The largest bouquet represents Nabil, as it contains all the aforementioned flowers, as well as his own favorite flowers: tuber roses."

ACROSS THE RIVER

EXHIBITION | Curated and exhibited (2022)

"Across the River" showcases seven young artists who continue to create art in drastically altered circumstances. Four fine art painters, a ceramicist, and a photographer respond to a situation defined by isolation—a condition experienced by all in similar yet fundamentally different ways. Vibrant, otherworldly motifs born from this period of collective introspection come to life at New Grass Gallery.