Meet Karthine Maniam a professional henna artist based in Kuala Lumpur, who is making mehendi cool again with her unique style and perspective.
Karthine ManiamPhoto: Instagram/tmk_henna
“These designs I drew was something I wanted to experiment on. I would call it a ‘passion project'. I had to create this piece after watching the Avengers: End Game!” an excited Karthine shared.
During boring subjects in school, when everyone else used to concentrate in class... I used to doodle. Surprisingly each doodling gave a new outcome and the compliments I received from friends who were equally free like me (hehe) encouraged me to create more and more new patterns each day. That was definitely the beginning to my journey in this field.
Karthine Maniam, henna artist
We are glad she didn’t stop doodling and taught herself art, or the world would have missed out on such amazing body-art designs.
Henna For a Cause?
Maniam’s fresh outlook towards henna body-art also guides her to take up unique projects. One such was her involvement with ‘Kiss By Cancer’, an initiative for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Karthine opened her studio’s door to those battling with cancer and gifted them with henna crowns that they so deserved.
Cancer survivor Navi Indran PillaiPhoto: Instagram/tmk_henna
I always believe that each and everyone of us carry a gift within us, and we gotta dig deep within to find what that is and spread it around because that could be one of your purpose in life. That was how I decided to share free henna crowns for cancer patients, who were undergoing Chemotherapy. The whole experience of sharing my art to empower women, indirectly empowers me too. It is always a project that is very close to my heart.
Karthine Maniam
Karthine with model and cancer survivor Navi Indran PillaiPhoto: Instagram/tmk_henna
Mehendi For Men?
In India, mehendi and henna is mostly associated with women, such as in weddings, and other occasions. When asked if mehendi can be an equally attractive option of body-art for men, like tattoos are , Mariam’s response is ‘why not.’
Man flaunting his biceps with a Rajinikanth inspired mehendi on itPhoto: Karthine Maniam
In fact, I realized that I drew for more guys now compared to girls when I have take part in art bazaars these days. It makes me so happy to see how ‘mehendi’ is being accepted without any stereotypes.
Karthine Mariam
Boy getting ‘inked’ in mehendi.Photo: Karthine Maniam
Even before tattoos became an expression of rebellion and counterculture, then a statement of individuality, body art has had a long standing history in various parts of the world.
In fact use of henna for body art has been practiced for over 5000 years, and is believed to be a gift from Egypt to India centuries ago.
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