Hey everyone, excited to talk you about my latest event. As some of you may know, henna (western pronunciation) or mehndi (universal pronunciation) art is creative, safe, fun and the temporary henna tattoos are enjoyed universally yet many people have a misconception that henna is solely a cultural art form. Yes it is true, historically one would hear of henna art being used in Egypt, Pakistan, India and Africa either at weddings for brides or guests, or for religious events such as Eid and Diwali where henna is still used as part of the festivities. Today, the trend is changing and the emergence of henna art is being included amongst the Western world, from festivals, to corporate events, or simply for social pleasure. Henna is certainly becoming increasingly popular and used in creative events and it works wonders!
My latest event was at Coventry University, a city in Central England known for the medieval Coventry Cathedral, which was left in ruin after WWII bombing. I had the pleasure of being invited to a huge welcome event for 900 international students at Coventry University and my henna art was being offered as part of the entertainment for attendees. From magicians, to violinists, it was a beautifully assembled evening. It started with an empowering speech for all students and led onto the social event for the evening. There were delicious smelling food trucks that always gets me excited, and they proved popular judging by the queues! There was a real sophisticated festival vibe at the event, a lovely buzz in the stunning cathedral building enabling current and new students to mingle and get acquainted. Is was a wonderful way to introduce new students to the University, and others!
The henna art I created was enjoyed by many students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, and staff inclusively. The queues at the stall were never ending! It was so popular that regrettably I had to turn people away towards the end! The henna patterns were a lovely departing gift for everyone who was patient enough to queue up for one. Within such a short time frame I met people from at least 10 different countries, from Europe to U.A.E and as far as China. It was a humbling experience meeting a vast array of people and hearing about their journey to Coventry University and their aspirations for the future. For many it was their very first henna tattoo they had applied and this is always a wonderful moment for me, seeing the reaction of first time henna clients and educating them about henna art.
Creating henna at this event was certainly unique, admittedly initially I was intrigued and wondered how the University would incorporate my art into a welcome event, but low and behold it all came together spectacularly. It would be amazing if more Universities would get creative with Henna Art.
A big thank you to Coventry University, particularly Sarah and team, for booking Mehndi by Tan for such a great Welcome Event. It was a wonderful experience and I had a great time. See you next year!
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