Public Project
The Henna Project
After concluding a chapter of my NGS funded project Kwalliya which was an exploration of the meanings, aesthetic and functions of ancestral facial and body marks, I was confronted with realities that pushed me to explore further how adornment has evolved in the contemporary world. I realized that tattooing practices have taken a new dimension and are practiced in various ways. I decided to focus on how these forms of adornment have evolved to a more temporary form as a result of religious and medical beliefs.
The go-to form is using a natural dye plant called Henna (Lawsonia inermis). The plant which has its origin in North Africa and the Middle East can be used for various purposes. Historically, Moroccans used it to dye special fabrics to gift ladies as they become brides and this fabric is kept sacred because they incorporate designs with meaningful symbols for them. It is also used for body decoration especially during weddings, events and festivals.
However, I started to look beyond the body; I decided to experiment with henna on fabrics, canvas and clay and found it therapeutic and quite versatile.
It will be interesting to further explore the relevance and significance of this plant across different cultures to find, share and exchange similarities and differences thereby using it as a unifying force to co-create immersive experiences as well as encourage artistic expressions and healing methods using this super plant.
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