Henna is the art of love, protection and healing the world, though the light of nature.
Henna on Body, Model Leane Davis, Photographer Chris Butcher
The art of Henna is practiced throughout the world, from the deserts of Africa to the villages of Northern India. For more than five thousand years, magnificent designs have blossomed and vanished upon the hands and feet of many men and women. Henna is believed to be a magical plant and was used to honour and bless one of the most miraculous transformations - the metamorphosis of man and woman into husband and wife.
Being born in Pakistan, influenced by Indian culture and raised in Middle East, all played a huge role in building my interest towards henna. It was something that was always part of some festival, as a symbol of happiness, love, protection and life; almost like in a form of a blessing for all who touched it. Henna gatherings (birthdays, hen's night, weddings and any such festivities for the celebration of life) are an experience of bonding, sharing and lots of laughter. I was mesmerised by the patterns created by my grandmother and mother which emerged on the hands and feet of so many family members.
By adorning the visible, material body, they also see to satisfy a universal longing for the embellishment of it's intangible counterpart: the human spirit.
My journey with henna began when I was five years old. However, during intense experimentation over the last few years, I have discovered profound friendship and healing powers. People follow this art form without fully grasping the scope of such magic energies and so I decided to learn about it from the best teacher I could find, and that was henna itself.
Henna on Body, Model Danny, Photographer Chris Butcher
My first lesson was just playing around with the pigment, by dipping my hands into a bowl filled with henna, trying to understand it's different properties. Along with being fascinated with my red hands, I was thrilled with the tingling, cooling sensation surging through my body. A few days later when I stopped working with henna, I kept loosing the colour on my hands, which was a huge disappointment. However, I soon realized it wasn't loosing, it was more like becoming one with another mystical soul, which is the explanation of life itself. This mystery kept me going in my research and attracts me to find my true soul though this form of art, by becoming one with it.
Henna is a teacher that makes you experience the natural powers within each one of us.
While becoming a textile designer, I was constantly inspired by traditional henna patterns from all over the world, each style depicting the history of their region, influence of religion, culture and social life. I wanted to study the pattern and symbols, to understand the rich heritage and reflection of the artistic ability of the people from a very primitive beginning. I started painting with pure henna but unfortunately this again would not work. The henna would flake off when dry, leaving a stain which would fade away after awhile, just as it does on the body. I have always believed in capturing the beautiful moments of life, so it was very disappointing to gradually loose a beautiful pattern into nothingness. This guided me through my experimentation of using and preserving henna as a pigment and not as a dye alone. This suddenly offered a new direction to explore which had never been done before. I wanted to bring to life the true form of henna, not only as a dye but also as a pigment, to give it a new meaning, form and presence. This meaning would last for ever and reflect the true spirit of henna, moving from the ephemeral to the permanent, hence preserving the ancient art form gifted to me by my elders.
I believe henna is like a good friend, who meets you when you need them, stays with you to help you mature over time bringing colour of guidance into your life, leaving you gifted with treasured memories forever.
Once I had understood henna's pure texture, colour and designs from all over the world, I started mixing it with different types of available glues, synthetic and natural pigments and oils to make it bind to various surfaces. As henna has a purpose for its existence, so should the products that it is on. Therefore, I wanted it on pieces that could be used in daily life and not only for decoration purpose. This would allow the meaning of henna to evolve, as it's not only for beautifying, but also to give and share experiences.
Henna on Silk Panel, Echoes of Home, "Journey of a woman's life, through the patterns of Henna ", in The Museum of Brisbane, Photographer Mustafa Zafar
After about a year of experimentation, I managed to preserve it on textile, wood, clay and paper. My first exhibition was with patterns applied with henna, on pieces of silk suspended against the light, blending the beauty and radiance of nature. Light is a metaphor for the reflection of God, gifting us with a palette of colours through natural pigments. When incorporated with strong expressive sweeping Arabic script symbolising the words narrated to us through nature, such designs offers us the light of God. By painting with my hands and fingernails and thus avoiding unnatural tools, I achieve and maintain absolute purity.
I have since been working with henna on different mediums, putting together exhibitions, to narrate the story of such an exquisite gift of nature. I started working with henna lamps, made up of stretched silk, in various sizes. Silk wall hangings were the second favourite choice for people to admire. These pieces resembled ancient paintings, dyed with henna still used as a dye and pigment together, to bring to life the patterns of different regions of the world, narrating their cultural stories.
After coming to Adelaide, the diversity of my canvases were increased remarkably, from my body and lamps to white ceramic plates, bowls, vases, tea candle holders and photo frames and candles. This allowed me to create an entirely new range of art pieces with the intention to deliver intricate patterns of henna that could be used in our daily lives, emitting the energy of henna to everyone and not only to people who get it done on their skin.
Adelaide has definitely gifted me with numerous opportunities, to produce my own work and also to collaborate with other artists to bring together the fusion mix of cultures. Currently, I am working with a photographer and putting together an exhibition of henna body art pictures, celebrating the patterns of henna on not just hands and feet but the whole body. I enjoy collaborating with other artists, as it always allows me see henna and learn more about it though the eyes of a different person.
Henna on Ceramic, in Diya Studio, Photographer Humna Mustafa
To me, henna is a secret language - a language of symbols. It connects the human body to the mind and soul. Each pattern or symbol drawn on any surface, living or dead, reflects a story, a meaning unknown by many. The general purpose of henna understood by people seems to be just the beautification of human body, but to my mind its true purpose is to give experiences... of healing, bonding, sharing and relaxing.
I not only want to preserve the patterns, but also to make them part of our lives, reflecting healing energies for all those who saw them, touched them, and felt them.
Henna on Hands, Fringe 2005, Essence of Henna, Photographer Humna Mustafa
I am on a journey to promote and write the story of a plant, which reflects our lives. It is a plant that gives colour which matures over time and soon fades into nothingness, gifting its memories for ever ... just like each one of us. I hope people can enjoy the art form not only for its beauty but also for its wholesome and wonderful spiritual powers.
