Re: The Aesthic of Henna

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Posted by Nick on June 26, 2001 at 00:54:03:

In reply to: The Aesthic of Henna posted by txilar on June 26, 2001 at 00:08:01:

I agree with you on all of that. The main reason that i like
experimenting with things like lime and ammonia and other stuff to do
with the henna is just to see what *it* can do, not what i can make
it do. I don't see ammonia or lime as me doing something to it,
rather it responding to it's environment. Another thing is that i
don't usually use methods that have never been used by anybody else.
I don't just slather random things onto my henna to see what i can
make it do- i test out ancient and time tried recipes and ideas just
to see if they will work for me. I want to see if i can do it the
ways our fellow henna artists have been figuring out and using and
changing for thousands of years. I have never actually changed my
henna groove as a result of any of these experiments, they are really
just to try stuff out. I always end up back at regular original henna.
~Nick

: I had to think this over after reading it before I felt I could
: respond. I agree and disagree in a way (and of course don't mean
: *any* disrespect with that!) Henna is a natural substance that
should
: be respected, not abused. Abuse in my mind is using things such as
: the PPD and gasoline, substances whose non-Henna related use might
: ought to be questioned as well! And ammonia, having its roots in
day-
: old camel pee just ... well, it's simply not aesthetic to me
or "my"
: henna!! However, ammonia is a natural byproduct produced by our own
: bodies, so it isn't really the same abuse, I don't think, that
: gasoline is. And lime (the slaked lime at least) is used by make
: masa. Who could live without their masa!? Thus, it too is a
: relatively natural product (we sometimes just help it along.) Same
: thing for calcium carbonate. These things, to me, encourage the
: henna. I agree that black and super dark shouldn't be the goal. The
: goal is henna and the unique beauty it produces- but there are
things
: that can help a shy henna reach its potential. To that end, why
even
: use lime or lemon juice? We have to use something to release that
: dye, a little natural oil here and calcium products there aren't
: destroying the henna. It's the idea of what henna *should* be to
: certain people that destroys it, and well, if it isn't henna that
: those people abuse it will be something. Certain people simply have
a
: nature that causes them to bend any and everything to their will. I
: used to always get irritated with people that refer to henna
as 'temp
: tattoos' and the like. But, my mindfullness set in and I realised
: that that is all it is to them. No matter what idea henna-ites (heh
: heh) maintain, for some, it's just another hippie stlye/skater
: style/military style/grunge/ <insert comet-like returning fad here>
: and nothing will convince them otherwise. For Henna-ites, it is
: something altogether different.
:
: : I think it is cool experimenting with different henna techniques.
: : However, I just wanted to let the experimenters know that the
best
: : moroccan artists I met were very knowledgeable about what
: : constitutes "healthy" vs. "tainted" henna and made a point of
using
: : all-natural ingredients. Some of them were a little bit snooty
: about
: : the henna artists in Azzemour who use the quicklime technique, in
: : fact I was told several times that "henna is a healthy plant, a
: : sacred plant, why would anyone want to add bad ingredients?"
(this
: in
: : reference to gasoline, lighter fluid or ammonia crystals.)
: : Personally, I'd like to see people exploring more of what henna
can
: : do on its own, rather than what we can "make" henna do, ie what
: henna
: : can do with silk, rayon, hemp, paper, papyrus, wood, eggshell,
: skin,
: : etc. There's a world of henna projects out there if we can just
: dream
: : them up!
: : ciao,
: : kree

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Re: The Aesthic of Henna txilar 16:40:40 6/26/2001 (0)

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: I agree with you on all of that. The main reason that i like : experimenting with things like lime and ammonia and other stuff to do : with the henna is just to see what it can do, not what i can make : it do. I don't see ammonia or lime as me doing something to it, : rather it responding to it's environment. Another thing is that i : don't usually use methods that have never been used by anybody else. : I don't just slather random things onto my henna to see what i can : make it do- i test out ancient and time tried recipes and ideas just : to see if they will work for me. I want to see if i can do it the : ways our fellow henna artists have been figuring out and using and : changing for thousands of years. I have never actually changed my : henna groove as a result of any of these experiments, they are really : just to try stuff out. I always end up back at regular original henna. : ~Nick : : : : I had to think this over after reading it before I felt I could : : respond. I agree and disagree in a way (and of course don't mean : : any disrespect with that!) Henna is a natural substance that : should : : be respected, not abused. Abuse in my mind is using things such as : : the PPD and gasoline, substances whose non-Henna related use might : : ought to be questioned as well! And ammonia, having its roots in : day- : : old camel pee just ... well, it's simply not aesthetic to me : or "my" : : henna!! However, ammonia is a natural byproduct produced by our own : : bodies, so it isn't really the same abuse, I don't think, that : : gasoline is. And lime (the slaked lime at least) is used by make : : masa. Who could live without their masa!? Thus, it too is a : : relatively natural product (we sometimes just help it along.) Same : : thing for calcium carbonate. These things, to me, encourage the : : henna. I agree that black and super dark shouldn't be the goal. The : : goal is henna and the unique beauty it produces- but there are : things : : that can help a shy henna reach its potential. To that end, why : even : : use lime or lemon juice? We have to use something to release that : : dye, a little natural oil here and calcium products there aren't : : destroying the henna. It's the idea of what henna should be to : : certain people that destroys it, and well, if it isn't henna that : : those people abuse it will be something. Certain people simply have : a : : nature that causes them to bend any and everything to their will. I : : used to always get irritated with people that refer to henna : as 'temp : : tattoos' and the like. But, my mindfullness set in and I realised : : that that is all it is to them. No matter what idea henna-ites (heh : : heh) maintain, for some, it's just another hippie stlye/skater : : style/military style/grunge/ <insert comet-like returning fad here> : : and nothing will convince them otherwise. For Henna-ites, it is : : something altogether different. : : : : : I think it is cool experimenting with different henna techniques. : : : However, I just wanted to let the experimenters know that the : best : : : moroccan artists I met were very knowledgeable about what : : : constitutes "healthy" vs. "tainted" henna and made a point of : using : : : all-natural ingredients. Some of them were a little bit snooty : : about : : : the henna artists in Azzemour who use the quicklime technique, in : : : fact I was told several times that "henna is a healthy plant, a : : : sacred plant, why would anyone want to add bad ingredients?" : (this : : in : : : reference to gasoline, lighter fluid or ammonia crystals.) : : : Personally, I'd like to see people exploring more of what henna : can : : : do on its own, rather than what we can "make" henna do, ie what : : henna : : : can do with silk, rayon, hemp, paper, papyrus, wood, eggshell, : : skin, : : : etc. There's a world of henna projects out there if we can just : : dream : : : them up! : : : ciao, : : : kree
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