I am using henna as a medium to paint. The paintings are made using a combination of two Art styles of Indian Art namely the contemporary henna art and Indian miniature paintings. I am using the motifs and drawing forms from these art traditions to create a painting that brings out my own inner emotions. Mostly I deal with love, hate, fear, peace, harmony, power struggle and unrest. The imagery of the paintings is carefully composed and layered to create meaning. I am also experimenting with the images to tell a story with a layered narrative that can have a number of interpretations. I often keep the narrative open for the viewer to interpret the paintings the way they see them.

Following is a detail description of the art style I work in.

Henna is often used during festivals, especially the wedding to adorn bride’s hands and feet. Henna is the symbol of love and care. The fragrance of henna is said to bring peace and harmony in the life of the person who wears it. During the wedding, the henna ceremony marks the last day for the bride to be with her own family. Often the experience is emotional It is that time when most brides are poignant about leaving their parent’s house and anxious to start a new life with new people.

Contemporary Henna Art-

Contemporary henna art is decorative and design oriented. The traditions have changed from using henna as a mere dye color, to using it for adorning and embellishing palms and feet. The intricate designs make it aesthetic. It uses thin fine line and the motifs are taken mostly from nature. There are various designs and motifs that are used to symbolize and tell stories from epics like Mahabharatha and Ramayana. Brides and bridegrooms, wedding symbols, peacocks, vines, flowers and leaves are the typical images in henna designs.

Indian Miniature Paintings-

Indian miniature paintings are known worldwide for their beauty, finesse and impeccable detailing. The history of Indian Miniature Paintings can be traced to the 6-7th century AD, the time, when Kashmiri Miniatures first marked their appearance. Miniature Paintings have evolved over centuries carrying the influence of other cultures. The miniature artists painted self-expression on paper, ivory panels, wooden tablets, leather, marble, cloth and walls. The artists employed multiple perspectives in their paintings. The idea was to convey reality that existed beyond specific vantage point. The different schools of Indian miniatures are, the Pala, Orissa, Jain, Mughal, Rajasthani and Nepali.

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