Mehendi or henna has been a huge part of Indian-sub continent with women using this as a medium to adorn themselves at festivals and weddings. But in the past few years, the influence of henna has reached the West and has been slowly turning into a contemporary art, with the younger generation expressing their creative sides and having more fun with it.
How has Gen Z turned henna into contemporary art?
The younger generation has become more creative with henna designs and has not just limited themselves to the traditional approach. From showcasing their love for pop culture to highlighting a lifestyle, mehendi has been given a different meaning.
With the rise of the youth openly expressing their love for movies and shows, henna has also become another canvas to celebrate the fandom. From Spider-Man to Japanese anime like Jujutsu Kaisen to the classic Harry Potter, the fanbase have been showcasing their art and appreciation through temporary hennas.
Henna art has moved beyond being only something that has made women interested in it. Men have been openly exploring this art too and have been showcasing love for their respective fandoms through this. Anime fans have been asking for Demon Slayer's Hashira patterns and Jujutsu Kaisen's Sukuna face tattoos, highlighting the craze of the fandoms.
Meanwhile, Spider-Man fans have been putting spider-webs, spiders, and Marvel logos on their backs or wrists to showcase a unique way loving the films.
Some modern and simple henna art you can recreate:
Mehendi has been a wearable art for decades, but being temporary, it gives space to the person for being more experiment. Its placement is now more intentional and not just limited to hands. Think of your henna tattoo on your waist showing with a crop top, or on your collarbone with an off-shoulder crop top. With the rise in its popularity in the West, many colour options, including glitter blue and pink, are also available.
It has also become a form of self-expression with women openly flaunting henna tattoos on their wrists or waist, not shying away from showcasing their femininity through a new lens. It's a mood, fandom and a personality drawn on skin.
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(Image Credit: Pinterest)