Rainbow Macramé Wall Hangings Dazzle With Intricate Knots of All Kinds

Jakarta-based artist Agnes Hansella creates macramé wall hangings with dazzling twisted texture and radiating rainbow colors. Although the craft is perhaps best recognized as retro-inspired plant hangers, Hansella produces monumental works that showcase the intricate knotting and variety of textures all made using the same material. Her pieces include rows of chain-like columns as well as lattice motifs and a lot of fringe. Sometimes, specific areas of hand-dyed color or knotting create eye-catching designs within a design.

In an effort to combat waste, Hansella has turned to leftover supplies as the raw material for her newest work. “My latest piece—Rainbow Burst—is something I made from leftover ropes,” she tells My Modern Met. “I haven't made any new piece outside commission work for a long time and with that, I kinda just play around with it.” The piece is a reflection of her observations in Indonesia and Canada (where she studied), particularly of the visual culture of Indigenous peoples. “The inspiration is from Navajo motifs of a butterfly, and the process is an extension of all the swirls series I've been making these past years.”

Through her work, Hansella seeks to defy conventions in the craft. “In making macramé pieces, I never want to cage myself to a certain style and always go with my instinct,” she explains. “Art for me is like a relay race where artists are part of a cycle that connects the past and future. Most of the time I'm not sure what I'm doing, but I do it anyway. When you're willing to do things over and over without quitting, I guess that's the right field for you.”