Henna Sue

I started doing henna, or mehendi/mehndi as the art form is called, in 1996 when a friend returned from Morocco with henna supplies. We were students at MassArt at the time and spent hours drawing on willing participants. The process of composing endless variations of patterns out of intricate lines and shapes suited me perfectly. The fact that henna only stains the skin for a few weeks was also appealing, and fit right in with the rest of my time-based, ephemeral artwork. My connection with henna is not only on an artistic level, but on a cultural one, as well. I grew up with a stepfather from India, a mother from Maine, and a biological father from the middle east. I am a blend of culture and my henna reflects this. I am as comfortable spending 4 hours on intricate bridal henna as I am recreating any image someone finds off the internet. I can freestyle patterns or draw anything I am given to look at. I began my design research working on traditional South Asian patterns and then branched out into Arabic, Moroccan, and Gulf motifs, soon finding beautiful patterns in the many cultures of the world- including my own.