SYM-ME-TRY | Thirty years of Flore Zoé's artistry in the Soestervleugel
A visual narrative about power, equality and human relationships.
From April 16th, Flore Zoé her retrospective exhibition SYM-ME-TRY in the Soestervleugel of Soestdijk PalaceIn this exhibition she presents thirty years of artistry Together, they explore recurring themes such as power, being seen, equality, and balance. The project marks a key moment in her oeuvre: a convergence of work, questions, and insights that have developed over three decades.
Flore Zoé's oeuvre is entirely devoted to photography. Her images are carefully staged and reveal human relationships in all their complexity. Over the years, her work has explored themes such as identity, sexuality, nature, sustainability, and social inequality. She continually explores what connects people—and what becomes visible when differences are not smoothed over, but acknowledged.
After years of international exhibitions, Flore Zoé has recently consciously focused her attention on the Netherlands. Not to look back, but to further deepen her social engagement here. SYM-ME-TRY forms a culmination point: an exhibition in which personal, artistic and social lines converge.
We Who See Each Other
Central in SYM-ME-TRY the new series is We Who See Each OtherThis series forms both the core content and the overarching framework of the exhibition. In six new works, Flore Zoé explores universal themes: power, peace, justice, recognition, freedom and courageThe common thread is the tension between (in)equality: the realization that equality cannot exist without the recognition of inequality as a human reality. In each image, an encounter arises in which people are not placed opposite each other, but alongside each other.
Flore Zoé selected specific rooms in Soestdijk Palace as a platform for her work. Some of these spaces are normally inaccessible to the public. By situating her sculptures here, a layered dialogue between image, space, and history is created. Power, humanity, and vulnerability are not explained, but made tangible.
This series is made possible by Maya Meijer Bergmans, owner of Soestdijk Palace, which offered Flore Zoé the space, both financially and in terms of content, to realise her work within this context.
Conversations and substantive deepening
An important part of We Who See Each Other is the substantive deepening that emerged from meetings with inspirational figures from various disciplines. These conversations don't provide an explanation of the images, but rather a parallel thinking space in which the themes are further refined.
In a compact setting, Flore Zoé engages in a dialogue with distinguished guests from various fields. No panels or promotional talks, but real conversations. About power and responsibility, about humanity, and about the ability to truly see each other beyond role or position.
Face-to-Face provides a substantive deepening of the SYM-ME-TRY exhibition and invites reflection, encounter, and attention.
Maarten de Rijke x Flore Zoé | Sunday, May 3, 15:00 PM
University Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Information Retrieval (UvA) and Scientific Director of ICAI. As one of Europe's leading AI scientists, he could have chosen a career driven by technology and capital. Instead, he applies his knowledge to societal progress. On technology, knowledge, and the relationship between humans and intelligent systems.
Maya Meijer Bergmans x Flore Zoé | Sunday, May 17, 15:00 hours
Maya Meijer Bergmans studied art history at Leiden University and is co-owner of Soestdijk Palace.
A conversation about the sustainable redevelopment of monumental heritage, in which art, culture, and social concepts play a central role. All of this is linked to future-proof operation, in which past and future are carefully brought into balance.
Lakshmi x Flore Zoé | Saturday, May 23, 15:00 PM
Singer, songwriter, and performer. Lakshmi consistently chooses the power of substance over the allure of the big stage. With her voice, she connects with personal and societal stories. This conversation explores vulnerability, expression, and the role of art as a means to truly make a difference.
Oscar Hammerstein x Flore Zoé | Sunday, June 7, 15:00 hours
Lawyer and criminal defense attorney. With a keen eye on law and justice, Oscar Hammerstein asks the question of who the law truly protects. His conviction: the law must protect the citizen against power. A conversation about responsibility, principles, and the role of the individual within larger societal structures.
Geert Kazemier x Flore Zoé | Sunday, June 14, 15:00 PM
Surgical oncologist and founder of the Adore research center. Where he could have chosen a conventional, successful medical career, he dedicates himself to innovation and collaboration in cancer and brain research. On science, care, and the human dimension of medicine, and the choice to prioritize impact over comfort.
Do you already have an admission ticket for SYM-ME-TRY and would you also like to attend a face-to-face conversation?
If seats are still available, you can purchase individual tickets at the box office for €10.
About Flore Zoé
Flore Zoé (1975) began taking photographs at the age of six. Her childhood and personal history continue to inspire her work to this day. Her oeuvre reflects a continuous quest for harmony, human dignity, and equality.
Her work ranges from intimate group portraits to large-scale, theatrical installations. Each image focuses on the presence and power of the subjects, with an underlying tension that invites attentive viewing. Flore Zoé has exhibited internationally, including at the Opera Gallery in Paris, Seoul, Singapore, New York, and Hong Kong. Her work is included in collections worldwide.
About SYM-ME-TRY
SYM-ME-TRY isn't a quest for clear-cut answers, but for proportion. In a world increasingly tilting toward extremes, Flore Zoé juxtaposes people: influence and invisibility, strength and vulnerability, familiar and unfamiliar.
Not as an aesthetic statement, but as a moral proposal: Do we dare to really see each other?
Practical information
Date: April 16, 2026 to June 21, 2026
Opened from: Thursday to Sunday
Opening hours: 11:00 AM – 17:00 PM, last entrance at 16:15 PM
Location: The Soester Wing of Soestdijk Palace
