Macrame: “Indigo Dip”, 2021, 40cm x 61cm

“Indigo Dip”, 2021, 61cm long and 40cm wide.

Indigo and ice blue knotted soft sculpture 3-dimensional macrame art.

Materials: recycled cotton cord and jersey yarns, indigo dye, wooden dowel

It’s the narrative arch in my studio. I get bored of doing something the same way, I find a colour to pity — in this case, it was grey — and adopt, I start executing my grand idea, and then, I hit a block and can’t fathom how to process. “Indigo Dip” was not always indigo blue. It used to be a plain wooden dowel, and grey jersey yarn of two different thicknesses. I had started experimenting with a more sculptural, three-dimensional format in my macrame practice, and wanted to see if a colour I don’t use much can be given a lift through this new format. Grey, oh, where do we start? Grey is fine and easy to wear, but grey art? Grey on the walls? It felt too dreary and drab, and so I decided to challenge myself to make something in grey. But I believe in the power of colours, and the depressing grey eventually led me to a creative block. Until I ordered indigo dye, and plonked the entire work into a vat of it. Alas, it languished on my work rack for a further while. Because dark blue is just as depressing as grey! Until I glimpsed the little-used ice-blue jersey yarn on my shelves, and realised it was the friend the indigo dip-dyed piece had been awaiting. I added 4 braids, and thoroughly enjoyed the process of intertwining, overlapping, ravelling, unravelling, obscuring, and unveiling the thirteen knotted strands in this work. There is no easy linear narrative here; “Indigo Dip” is a soft, textile sculpture that irritates you with its criss-crossing lines, and the aesthetic marvellously reflects the iterative, lurch-and-brake nature of the creative process behind it. “Indigo Dip” measures 61cm (24.2 inches) long, 40cm (15.8 inches) wide, and is about 10cm (4 inches) thick.

UNIQUE FIBRE ART — 

This is a unique piece of art. I have never repeated a design, and I will not reproduce this design either.

It is ready to ship, and comes with the rod/dowel pictured. All you need is a nail that is long enough to hold the dowel.

Please keep in mind that the photos were taken indoor, with a warm white ceiling bulb as illumination. Depending on where you decide to hang the work, you might find the hues just slightly warmer or cooler.

This piece is a unique statement that invites conversations about textures and colour palettes. It is my desire and artistic vision that it opens dialogues about waste and recycling.

This is a small/medium artwork, and is what your white wall needs. (No, it doesn’t need more black and white Scandinavian minimalist prints). Hang it above your bed, in your entryway, the side of your stairway, in the living room as part of a photo gallery, above the sofa, in your reading nook…

INSTALLING YOUR ARTWORK —

Fibre artworks come without nails, hooks, or screws. Please arrange for the appropriate method depending on your wall material. Most of my pieces are about 300 to 500 grams heavy.

For fibre artworks that are hung on a metal rod or wooden dowel, it might look curled, crinkled, wrinkled, or crumpled after you unpack. This is because of the packing and the transit. After you hang it up, check for any tangles, and untangle by hand. Pompoms can be reshaped with a few squeezes. Use a steamer to straighter the fibres, or use a wide-toothed comb. Avoid fine-toothed combs or detangling combs. After hanging, the fibres will relax and regain their original appearance.

CARE — 

Dust the artwork regularly. A simple shake will do the job. Do not wash or vacuum clean. Be careful not to pull with force. Fibre artworks with an elaborate and long fringe are not suitable for households with curious cats or grubby children’s hands, or for locations with strong sunlight or a draft. A more detailed care guide is included in the package.

PACKAGING — As you might have noticed, recycling is big on my agenda. I use recycled cartons and boxes, and only paper to package your orders. Do take care when cutting open the packages 

GIFT — If you intend to gift the artwork, do drop me an email at hi@zoetanstudio.com to let me know what to write in the gift card.

SHIPPING — Why I need your phone number: for all international customers outside of Germany, I have to provide an email address and a phone number to the courier, so that they can contact you if needed. I respect your privacy and do not save your email address or phone number; the number is only for the dispatching courier.

QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS — Please contact me via email at hi@zoetanstudio.com

CUSTOMS —  Any custom fees that might be incurred are the buyer's responsibility. My customers have not had to pay customs yet because these are handmade pieces.

REFUNDS AND EXCHANGES — Please contact me via email at hi@zoetanstudio.com within 24 hours of placing your order for a refund or exchange. Once shipped, I cannot refund or exchange. Under European law, you have 14 days to return a product. But you must bear the return shipping costs yourself.

CONNECT — Follow me on Instagram @zoetanstudio.