Henna Art From Zanzibar Henna Art From ZanzibarHenna has been an integral past of women’s lives on Zanzibar from the distant past until the present day. Through the centuries women’s bodies have been decorated with intricate designs in celebrations of their wedding and religious festivals In modern times, tourists too are able to enjoy the tradition gladly paying a small price to be adorned with a favored design. Now the craft has developed from the skin and on to the canvas, as it enters its renaissance as a form of high art. Once you see these beautiful and intricate paintings you realize how they capture the skills of these talented artisans which in turn reward’s them with a permanent and valuable contribution to this noble art. The idea of transferring henna’s design from the body to canvas seems obvious, one wonders why it hasn’t been done before. Yet it took the vision of an artist from the mainland, who eventually became the founder member of Zanzibar young artist Association (ZAYYA) he came with the idea in front of his fellow colleagues, Hamza Ausiy and Seif Soud, the initial idea was interesting, but the question was how/if could it happen? They first spoke to one of henna body artists, formerly based at the old fort in Stone Town to experiment on canvas using a new medium, acrylic paint on silk canvas. As the initial results were encouraging, they asked the female artists to find out if there could be a wider market for this particular style of art and would they be interested in transferring their skills to this new medium. With their enthusiasm running high, it was then time to look for funding; their proposal was accepted and once granted their project was ready to begin. The idea is remarkable in its simplicity, power and effect, the project not only offers a new form of art and design but has also transformed the lives of the female artists and their families The Zanzibar young Artist Association (ZAYYA) in Hurumzi Street, Stone Town, donated the use of their gallery and the studio space, art teachers Omary Kiwenge and Hamza Ausiy gave their time and expertise. In August 2007, in a small artist’s studio in the humid heat of Stone Town, the Zanzibar Henna Art Project began. Groups of women who lived and worked as henna body artists were given training from Kiwenge and Ausiy to transfer skills from the body art to canvas art thereby developing a new art form; henna art design on canvas had arrived. The training was held at Zayaa gallery and conducted over many months; the arts instructor’s tuition developed the women’s skills as artists, drawing color, mixing design, canvas preparation and frame making skills. In the later stages the women studied the more complex skills of capturing the dimensional qualities of henna design on papers using pencil, water colors and finally acrylic on canvas. Over these past few years as their confidence and skills progressed, so too has the beauty of their work. Henna canvas art combines traditional henna motifs such as the bold floral patterns with storming colors the spirit and creativity, and the skills of contemporary arts and design. It is not surprising that this form of art work has been very warmly received with initial promising sales from the first exhibition and with a total sell out at the second exhibition. The paintings are sold from Henna Art Direct UK, Northampton, England | 
