Mehendi artists giving the traditional practice a modern twist
Proving that mehendi truly is an art
The unmistakable scent of mehendi swirls through the air in a dance between nostalgia and anticipation. Earthy, musky notes blend with a hint of floral sweetness on a rainy day. With that first paisley drawn on your palm, a trove of memories open up. Dadi covers the bottom of her feet in the cooling mixture on a hot summer day as mom crushes a new batch of fresh henna leaves. A ritual whose roots travel the world; some are placed in ancient Egypt, where Cleopatra adorned her body in intricate designs, while others stretch across the Middle East and North Africa, and find a home in South Asia. Mehendi artists have been around as long as this practice of staining our hands, feet and other body parts.
Mehendi artists are a staple at any celebration, from Eid to Diwali and weddings. Is a bride even a bride without the deep red of henna as a body accessory? But we have a new wave of mehendi artists who have asked a simple question: Why wait for a special occasion? Mehendi is an art that can be celebrated on any day. And it truly is an art form.
These mehendi artists have brought intricate floral and line work to everyday life, using the medium of henna to create unconventional designs with bodies as a canvas. Some have become maestros in the traditional patterns, taking it to a whole new level of intricacy, using textiles, folk art and block prints as inspiration; others have gone the minimal route with modern aesthetics.
Whether you’re looking for wedding inspiration, exploring different designs for your own practice or simply want to enrich your news feed, these are the mehendi artists for you.
Mehendi artists giving the traditional practice a modern twist
Known to many online as Dr Azra, Khamissa’s striking minimalist designs have a fan following of their own. Her artistry ranges from traditional motifs and delicate florals to shocking blocks and what she describes as her ‘more goth’ designs. If you want to be the rebel at your next family get-together, take inspiration from one of Khamissa’s bold designs. We love the Anime one.
All hail the queen of wedding mehendi artists because Sona Mistry will literally paint your palms with your entire love story. Her work is so detailed and fine that it looks like it’s been digitally printed. You have to see it to believe her talent, especially her portrait work which is out of this world.
Beam me up, Scotty, because this design is exactly what we want on our hands at the functions with that part of our extended family that bore us to death. Where conversations start and end with your marital status (we have other topics to address), hold up your hands and give a clear message (though, it might create some strife for your parents).
In the words of Miley Cyrus, you can buy yourself flowers. Or, with a balance of negative space and delicate flowers that twist and twirl around your arms, become the bouquet yourself like one of Wahid’s floral designs.
If you want to accessorise with henna jewellery, then take inspiration from Sabreena Haque’s geometric patterns that combine traditional details from South Asian, Moroccan and Arabic designs.
People say that we see in artworks reflections of ourselves, and we would wear this work by Jamal into battle. A deep red capturing the chaos of womanhood today – the good, beautiful, messy and unhinged.
Kajee’s designs look like something you’d spot on a Mughal monument’s wall, the jaali windows or in miniature painting. They’re delicate and ornate, perfect for the Mughal royalty-themed wedding event, always with a kooky name like Persian Darbar (can we stop with the super specific dress codes, please?).
While you’re sitting at your desk, click-clacking away at your computer, trying to make some coin, surrounded by a concrete jungle, carrying a piece of nature in the palms of your hand with a design like Amjid’s.
