Jacqui Fink
The Tethered Heart I: There Was a Place in Her Heart that Never Hardened
Layers accumulate. Resistance forms. Light remains.
Hand-worked textile artwork in felted wool.
A work of quiet strength and enduring tenderness, this piece explores the delicate balance between vulnerability and resilience.
Layers of colour and texture reveal a surface shaped by experience, while luminous passages emerge as reminders of what remains untouched beneath life's pressures. The work speaks to the capacity of the human heart to remain open, compassionate and hopeful, even when self-protection might seem the easier path.
Rich in atmosphere and emotional depth, There Was a Place in Her Heart that Never Hardened invites personal reflection, allowing each viewer to discover their own meaning within its layers.
A contemplative and deeply evocative work, it brings both presence and warmth to a space, offering a lasting reminder that true strength is often found not in hardening but in remaining open to life.
The Tethered Heart is a two-work series exploring the emotional architecture of the human heart — its capacity to remain open, to hold memory, and to keep reaching toward connection. Each work stands alone as a complete statement; together, they form a meditation on what it means to stay present to life.
This work is Part I of a two-work series. Enquiries regarding acquisition of the complete series are welcome.
Composition:
100% felted merino wool woven around a custom-made powder-coated metal frame. Wool and silk yarns, cotton thread.
Dimensions:
123cm wide x 5cm deep x 98cm high
Year:
2025
Weight:
15.2kgs
Frame:
Unframed, ready to hang.
The Tethered Heart work is prepared for wall hanging prior to dispatch. Professional hanging hardware is fitted by a specialist framer, allowing the work to sit slightly away from the wall to ensure adequate airflow behind the piece — an important consideration for the longevity of the textile. Any specific hanging instructions and total weight specifications will be included with your artwork on delivery.
This work is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity.
You can read more about the personal story that inspired this artwork in the Artist's Notes: The Tethered Heart Series.
You can read the Exhibition Statement for Cartography of Survival here.
Postage
Each original work is shipped complimentary within Australia, fully insured and packaged with the care that a unique artwork deserves.
International shipping is available to selected regions. Freight costs for original works are partially subsidised — we absorb a portion of the true cost of international carriage so that geography is not a barrier to collecting.
Collectors based in North America are warmly invited to contact us prior to purchase to discuss shipping arrangements and receive a personalised quotation.
I am a contemporary textile artist whose practice explores the relationship between material, emotion and adaptation. Working primarily with wool through processes of knitting, knotting, binding, stitching and construction, I create sculptural textile forms that investigate the ways people respond to experiences that challenge their sense of stability, identity and belonging.
My work is deeply informed by the repetitive nature of making. Through accumulation, labour and sustained engagement with materials, I explore how physical processes can become vehicles for reflection, endurance and transformation. Many of the forms that emerge in my practice begin intuitively, revealing their meaning only over time. As a result, making often functions as a form of inquiry—allowing ideas, emotions and experiences to take shape before they can be fully understood in language.
While the work frequently draws upon personal experience, it is not concerned with autobiography alone. Instead, I use material processes to investigate broader questions about care, resilience, vulnerability, connection and repair. The resulting forms occupy a space between abstraction and embodiment, suggesting emotional states, relationships and psychological landscapes without prescribing a singular interpretation.
At the centre of my practice is a belief in the capacity of making to hold complexity. Through textile processes that are both physically demanding and deeply repetitive, I seek to create works that acknowledge contradiction, endurance and the ongoing nature of adaptation. Rather than offering resolution, the work invites contemplation of the ways people continue to carry, rebuild and respond to the challenges that shape their lives.
Care
The Natural Resilience of Wool as an Interior Application
Your Jac Fink Original is handcrafted from premium merino wool, a fibre with remarkable natural longevity. Due to the inherent structure of the wool fibres and a high natural lanolin content, the fibres inherently repel dirt, dust and stains. As a result, these pieces require very little active maintenance. Wool is also a naturally fire retardant material.
Routine Dusting & Cleaning
The frequency of dusting and cleaning your artwork will ultimately be governed by the environment in which the artwork is hung. Routine dusting is advised to prevent the build up of dust and dirt, as both may, if not managed, discolour the wool over time.
To remove any settled dust or environmental particles, the artwork can be gently vacuumed. No specialised brush is needed — in fact, it is best not to use any attachments. The open, bare end of the vacuum nozzle or wand is ideal, as anything abrasive applied to the artwork may cause pilling.
Before starting, ensure the open nozzle of the vacuum is clean. Then gently run the nozzle along the woollen fibres. For stubborn areas, press the nozzle down on the affected area until the particles are removed. Work in gentle, smooth passes from the top of the hanging downward.
Standard Spot Cleaning
If required, spot clean any affected area by applying a small amount of wool wash on a smooth damp cloth and dabbing the affected area until the mark lifts. Lukewarm water is best. Avoid rubbing the area, as friction may cause pilling. Dab away any leftover soap residue with a fresh section of the damp cloth, then pat the area dry with a soft absorbent towel to remove any excess moisture. Allow to air dry.
Stain Removal
For any accidental liquid spills, such as red wine or coffee, the quick and generous application of soda water is generally effective. The effervescence helps lift the pigment out of the fibres before it sets. Use a soft dry cloth to press and absorb the liquid. Avoid rubbing the area. Always avoid rubbing or scrubbing the wool, as friction may cause the fibres to pill. If any shadow of the stain remains after the soda water dries, repeat the standard spot cleaning process as set out above.
Sunlight Exposure
Avoid hanging your textile artwork in areas that receive prolonged, intense, direct sunlight. Over time, UV rays can cause the wool to fade or change colour.
Humidity & Moisture
Whilst wool is highly resistant to mould, it is best to display your textile artwork in a dry, well-ventilated indoor environment. Avoid damp areas such as bathrooms or rooms with high humidity.
Avoid hanging the artwork directly against cold or exterior walls as condensation can trap moisture behind the artwork. Your textile artwork is best hung away from the wall to allow for proper airflow. Particularly in areas with high humidity, this will help prevent the build up of moisture between the wall and the artwork.
Storage
If you ever need to relocate, move or store the artwork for an extended period, protect it using these steps:
- Ensure the artwork is completely dry before packing.
- Lay the piece flat on a clean cotton cloth large enough to completely cover the artwork once wrapped. Gently roll the artwork with the cloth — or wrap if small — from one end to the other. It is important that the artwork is completely covered by the cloth and the cloth is secured in place. Do not use plastic wraps or airtight bags, as wool needs to breathe and plastic can trap moisture.
- Store the artwork in a cool, dry place. For long-term storage, place natural deterrents such as cedar balls or lavender sachets nearby to help protect the wool from moths and other insects.
Installation
Load Bearing
Your artwork can be hung from the ceiling or attached to a wall, subject to the load bearing capability of either area being appropriate. Each product listing specifies the hanging weight of the artwork. Please check this against the load bearing capacity of the relevant area in your home before hanging the artwork. Installation, and the safety of it, is the responsibility of the purchaser.
Hanging & Placement
Your Jac Fink Original is three-dimensional and highly textural in design. I recommend that the artwork be hung in a manner which allows it to hang away from the wall. This will give the artwork sufficient space to fall and rest naturally.
Each product listing provides information about the suggested hardware for hanging the respective artwork.
