If Henna Could Speak elevates non-Western works of art by women and non-binary people to their rightful place as a legitimate artistic practice. Through design and symbolic motifs, henna, also known as mendhi or laali, has adorned bodies for millennia. Henna originates from the plant Lawsonia inermis which is native across Northern Africa, Asia, and Australia.
In this interdisciplinary exhibition the mesmerising allure of henna is explored literally and metaphorically as it transcends bodies and borders, echoing stories of beauty, rupture, and cultural knowledge in a world where both art and body know no bounds.
Henna Through the Ages by Mehaira Abdelhamid
Sudanese photographer Mehaira Abdelhamid photographs three generations of a Bangladeshi family, a grandmother, mother and daughter. Iraqi and Bengali henna artists Salam Shamki and Tasnim Siddiqa Amin show us how henna has changed through the ages and use migration motifs such as ships, planes and birds in their henna designs.
Social Documentary Photography by Sylvie Belbouab
Across the Muslim world, henna traditions gather women of different generations to share life experiences. As part of Belbouab’s social documentary work she captures practices such as henna parties to document the deeper meaning and intergenerational knowledge that is passed through such practices.
Close up, up close by Nuz Fatima
Witness the convergence of tradition and innovation in this mesmerising performance art piece. With expert precision, intricate henna designs come to life on a live model. Join us for an interactive experience where the past and present collide. Audiences are encouraged to interact with the art and the artist throughout the performance.
Open daily, 11am–4pm.
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- Migration Matters