Seemi Rizvi has been practicing traditional henna art since childhood and is one of Middle Tennessee’s preeminent henna artists. Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Seemi remembers watching her mother paint henna on herself: “I remember my mom telling me to pick some henna leaves walking back from the neighborhood of my Sunday school.” Her mother then ground the leaves on a stone, and Seemi recalls, “I was little, and that stone was heavy but because of my eagerness to help her grinding, she allowed me. By the time I was done my hands were stained with beautiful orangish color.” After the leaves were ground down, her mother would form a dough and put it in Seemi’s hand. With the thinner paste, she would draw playful flowers and paisleys on her hand with a toothpick. As Seemi grew up, she was surrounded by cousins and family members who created intricate henna designs. Seemi never planned for henna design to be her career, but as she began practicing on her friends and neighbors, her love for henna gave her courage to follow her heart and do it professionally. “I feel extremely blessed to be in America, to be respected as an artist by pursuing my passion for henna.”
Growing up in Pakistan, Seemi also learned the rich cultural and ritual significance of henna. Henna is mainly used in celebration of special occasions such as the pre-wedding ceremony called the Mehndi. It is also used for holidays like Eid, the end of 30 days of fasting, and Eid ul Adha, the time of performing pilgrimage. Here in Nashville, henna remains important. Seemi explains, “There are still many Pakistani, Indian, Kurdish, Moroccan, Arab, and Irani celebrations here in America [that] incorporate henna.” Through her business, Seemi’s Henna Body Art, she has introduced henna to thousands of people who did not grow up around the tradition. She has created henna art in community spaces, universities, schools, and museums across middle Tennessee. Her work has been part of exhibitions at the Frist Museum, the Governor’s Residence, and the BNA Airport. Seemi explains the multiple benefits of henna art, from bringing families and friends together, to health benefits, to its important role in religious and cultural celebrations. Despite Seemi’s work to teach people about henna, there are few practitioners. “It saddens my heart to say that henna art is endangered in our community. Preservation of henna art is extremely important.”
As part of the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program this year, Seemi will be teaching her daughter, Fizza Abidi, traditional henna art. Fizza has been doing henna for many years now and is excited to do a deeper study of the art with her mother. She explains, “I used to copy my mom’s design by hiding if she was doing henna on someone else, when I was barely five years old. I was not happy as it was not good, even if my mom was amazed and told me it was really good. She has taught me henna basics already. Now I am excited to go to a different level with structured classes. I have seen many henna artists online but I truly like the uniqueness of my mom’s art. Her work influenced me.”
In addition to her mother’s influence, Fizza explains that her culture has played a big role in instilling a love of henna. “People in my community know about it, as for many celebrations henna is part of it. I hardly know anyone else in my community practicing it much.” She sees the importance of henna around her, explaining, “When I go to mosque, or Pakistani gatherings, I see henna on some people. Especially during celebrations of Eid or if someone is getting married. It’s still hard to find professional henna artists therefore it seems important to have someone of my generation to get trained from an experienced person.” She is excited to learn from her mother. “I would love to learn more about it so I can continue this beautiful tradition and pass it on to next generation with a hint of her style incorporated with mine…To keep this art as part of our culture and tradition I feel kind of little bit responsible to avail this opportunity to get professionally trained.” After training with her mother, she is excited to join her mother to do henna at events as well as pass on henna to the next generation.
