A TENDER HEART

FALMOUTH | 2024

KIMI ZOET

A Tender Heart was Kimi Zoet’s final MA exhibition, bringing together painting, sculpture, and illustration in an exploration of love, vulnerability, and the ways we care for one another. The exhibition centres around two recurring characters: the Wild One and Mama.

The Wild One is a misunderstood creature—awkward, unruly, and at times monstrous—yet deeply sensitive. Throughout the works, it carries and protects a fragile flame, a recurring symbol for the heart and the many forms that love can take. Sometimes the flame burns brightly, expanding beyond itself; at other times it appears delicate and uncertain, like a match struggling against the wind. Through this character, Zoet explores the courage and tenderness required to love despite vulnerability.

Alongside these works appears Mama, a maternal figure carved from oak. Originally inspired by the artist’s daily sunrise swims and her deep connection to the natural world, Mama emerged as an imagined feminine spirit and guardian presence. This character would later become the foundation for Zoet’s subsequent exhibition, Mama.

Combining woodcarving, illustration, and painting, A Tender Heart marks a significant moment in Zoet’s practice, introducing themes and symbols that continue to shape her work today. The exhibition reflects on love as both a source of strength and fragility, and on the enduring human desire to care for, protect, and connect with the world around us.