Review in the CUP Magazine
There’s no better way to spread awareness of henna than by getting a review and an interview in a popular local magazine! 
The article is all in Cantonese, however I have summarized the key points below:
Intro: Description about henna and how it’s made. How it provided a way for me to re-discover my roots. “Not only is it hard for some Hong Kong-ers to find their roots and identity,it is also the case for Karachi born artist Sara Mush.”
Goes on to talk about my background and a brief life history and how henna has been a part of me from a very young age. When it is used and for what reasons. Then it explains the concept behind the Henna Warriors.
Ends with my view of the role of women in Pakistan, and the traditional culture that I come from. How this contrasts with the women that I have chosen for this campaign and what this exhibition means to me personally.
Check it out!:)
Henna knows no boundaries…
Review in Lisa Living Magazine
It still amazes me how much interest The Henna Warriors exhibition has gotten! More and more local people are curious to know about the concept behind this exhibition and are keen to learn this traditional art of henna, and I think the reviews in the local magazines in Hong Kong have definitely played a big role in generating this awareness and interest. Here’s another review in a local magazine called Lisa Living!
Henna knows no boundaries…
Unbelievable turnout and response at the Opening Reception of The Henna Warriors!
What a night!!! I’m still in a complete daze, and this crazy happy high from the exhibition tonight! All the stress, the last minute panic, the tension and the worries, the threatening typhoon Megi… all of it feels insignificant compared to the joy and contentment I got from being at my first ever henna exhibition! I was stood in the room, surrounded by these photographs, and all these people for whom these created a topic of discussion and interest, and I found it hard to believe that dreams can actually come true!
I have dreamt of having my own exhibition since I was in high school, although back then the subject of my interest was different, it still feels wonderful to actually have created this exhibition on such a large scale!
MobArt did a fantastic job of organizing the logistics of this exhibition, while Joyceand Ken’s photography skills, mixed with the photogenic models and beautiful makeup by Ka Lam and Alexa blew people away! The henna art on Maura,Sunee, Kanchanand Joyce’s bodies stirred up many conversations, and it was surprising how many people were interested in the actual concepts behind the art. The stunning beauty of the models left people in awe, while they also got a chance to mingle around with the models and the full cast of ‘the Henna Warriors’ to get more details about the concepts!
Check out all the photos from my camera here, and keep an eye out for the professional photos!
Henna knows no boundaries…
The Henna Warriors Final Concepts
Silent Strength Series
Balancing Love series
Passionate Vision series
Harmonious Independence series
Promoted in Gallery Guide
Henna knows no boundaries…
Henna knows no boundaries…
Henna knows no boundaries…
Promoted in Hip Hong Kong
Henna knows no boundaries…
Promoted in Sassy Hong Kong
Henna knows no boundaries…
Promoted in Time Out HK
Behind the Scenes Video of The Henna Warriors!
Check out this short video of all the work that went into making this exhibition possible! The video’s been made from my iPod Nano, so it’s not the best quality, but it does the job!:) Please feel free to leave feedback!
Henna knows no boundaries…
Click to listen to my first ever Live Interview at RTHK, Radio 3! So exciting and nerve-wrecking at the same time, to be LIVE! No editing, no going back…
Hope to see you all at the Henna Warriors Exhibition this FRIDAY!
*A little sneak preview*
Henna knows no boundaries…
22nd October – opening of ‘The Henna Warriors’ Exhibition!
This is probably the biggest project I have ever undertaken to-date! It’s an absolute dream come true. HK’s first ever Henna exhibition – The Henna Warriors by Sara’s Henna, sponsored by many wonderful entrepreneurs of HK! Check out the invite below for more details, and keep checking for updates!
Click here to see The Henna warriors press release.
The Henna Warrior – Shoot 2:
The second model for my Henna Warrior shoot was Sunee LaClaire – otherwise known as Sunee Immaginare, the director of her consulting company – Immaginare Consulting. Sunee was recommended to me by both the photographer and the makeup artist as just the right person for my campaign. She had all those characteristics in her that I was looking to portray in my henna Warrior, and shooting with her was great fun! I got my first surprise when she volunteered her face for the henna! All this time, I had been wanting to henna someone’s face and neck, but didn’t think I would find any woman brave enough to walk around with a brown/ red henna staining her face for a week!
It took some time to think of a design that would be bold enough to stand out, yet delicate enough to look pretty and feminine, but in the end it wasn’t too hard when I took Sunee’s personality in the picture! With her love for nature and animals the patterns just flowed. I used very typical traditional floral patterns to represent the nature-istic side of her, with some bold swirls and paths portraying her independance and travels. A beautiful little birdie perched on her shoulder – small in size, yet with a powerful presence enough to make people stop and take notice … Just like I hope you will when you see the final shots at ‘The Henna Warrior Exhibition’!
For now take a look at all the backstage preparation for the shoot here, and keep watching this space for the next 2 photoshoots coming up soon!
Cast of shoot:
Joyce Yung – Photographer and RAW’s director
Alexa Lori Bui – Hair and Makeup Artist
Sunee La Claire - Model
Me – Henna Artist
The Henna Warrior – Shoot 1
After all the plans I had made for ‘The Henna Warrior‘ campaign, and confirmed with the people who were willing to take part in this shoot for me, I realized that the actual henna designs were going nowhere! I had a million ideas yet when I put pen to paper nothing did justice to the ideas and designs that were floating in my head. One week before the shoot I finally understood that my henna designs weren’t something I could sketch out and plan… like everything else I did, they had to come straight from the heart and flow naturally. So in the end, that’s what I did! I woke up for the big day, full of adrenaline, a case of nerves, and did a few quick last minute sketches during my MTR journey to RAW, ready for my Henna Warriors!
Arriving at RAW calmed my nerves and my first model of the shoot, Kanchan instantly put me to ease and assured me that she was happy with the design I had planned out for her. Once we started the henna, the rest flowed very smoothly and within an hour Kanch’s henna tattoo was done! We were pretty pleased with the results and I had completely over-estimated the time it would take to design the tattoo. Thanks to Kanch for being so patient and bearing the cold the whole time!
Next step was her hair and makeup of which Karen did an absolutely fantastic job! She added a bit of turquoise in her eyes to really make them stand out and soon Kanch looked every bit of the Henna Warrior that I had pictured in my head!
Then came the part which I thought would be the easiest, yet turned out to be the most interesting and exhausting part of the day – the Photo shoot! Who ever thought that a model’s life is easy… think again! Joyce was hard at work, in every single pose and angle imaginable to get the best shot for the Henna Warrior. I never realized just how many people have to work together to create a good photo or just how important good direction is for the perfect shot! The lighting, the angle, the pose, the expression, every little detail counts to make a picture perfect, but alas thanks to Joyce and Kanch, we got not one, but several perfect shots that you will be able to see at ‘The Henna Warrior Exhibition’!
This experience was something of an eye opener for me and it was absolutely wonderful to watch the images I had in my mind come to life before me. I learnt a lot through this first shoot and will be making quite a few changes for the rest of my henna Warriors! For now, I’m sure you’ve had enough of the story and are eager to see the actual photos so, click here to see all the backstage photos of the first Indian Henna Warrior photo-shoot! All photos courtesy of my camera, and the more pro looking ones from Joyce’s camera.
‘The Henna Warrior’ is a concept that derived from the aim of creating an awareness of henna art in Hong Kong, and breaking the boundaries of henna art and exploring the ways in which I can create a fusion of traditional eastern henna with modern contemporary henna to portray the strong personalities of HK’s modern women. Read about the full concept in thepress release here!
The whole concept was inspired by my good friend Derek – a movie producer and a creative copy genius:), and from a quick brainstorm session we had developed the idea into a campaign! First I was scared that like a lot of my ideas, this one too would never take shape, however I decided to make it happen! I knew that I could not give up till the images that had been conjuring up in my mind took place in reality! It was difficult to start with, but somehow everything fell into place, the models, the photography, the space, hair and makeup and because of all these amazing people I was able to turn this concept into reality! I could never thank them enough for doing this for me!! Let me introduce the wonderful cast of The Henna Warriors :
Joyce Yung – Photographer and Owner of RAW (Random Art Workshops)
Karen Lam – Hair and Makeup artist and Owner of KalaMakeup
Alexa Lori Bui – Hair and Makeup artist
Kanchan Panjabi – Owner of the fashion label Kanchan Couture
Sunee La Claire - Owner of an image consulting business – Immaginare Consulting
Watch and follow this blog for the full documentary in stories, photos and videos!
Henna knows no boundaries
