Blending Henna And Japanese Origami. Interview With Dr. Azra

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by Alexandra Mansilla

Blending Henna And Japanese Origami. Interview With Dr. Azra

17 Jun 2024

Imagine hands adorned with henna. Who comes to mind first? Dr. Azra. She creates stunning designs with henna on hands. Recently, on her Instagram account, an impressive new piece appeared — a sun in front of a sunrise. This artwork was a collaboration with Origami Sushi and photographer Altamash Javed (ALJVD), created especially for Eid Al Adha. This visual campaign depicts the balance between simplicity and depth, blending the theme of sacrifice central to Eid Al Adha with the serene principles of minimalist Japanese living.

We talked with her about this campaign, the art of henna (of course), chiropractic (surprisingly), and the exciting new ventures she is planning to launch.

— Hello Azra! The thing that I would like to start with is your latest collaboration with Origami Sushi, which was created for Eid Al Adha. How did it happen? What is the concept?

— We have tried to collaborate before, but sometimes, things come together when the timing is just right. So, they had a beautiful idea to touch on the theme of sacrifice, which is a significant aspect of this age and really resonated with me.

When thinking about Eid, the moon always comes to mind, especially during Ramadan, as it starts and ends with the moon. This led me to think about the perfect person to photograph this project — my friend Altamash Javed, a fantastic photographer. I spoke to Altamash about this new project, and eventually we had him on board.

We were working with designs inspired by origami and Japanese culture. I was focused on minimalism and simplicity. Although it could be seen as a moon, it ended up representing the sun — both are big, round balls of light.

When I showed the design options to Altamash, he was immediately attracted to the design. It fits perfectly with the themes of sacrifice and Japanese inspiration, and everything just clicked. It was a beautiful synchronicity.

Photo: Origami Sushi

— So, this work blends Japanese influence and Muslim traditions, right?

— Yes, and although the theme was sacrifice, which has a certain alpha quality, it evolved into something broader, capturing the essence of sacrifice itself.

Japanese culture, with its rich minimalist tattoo traditions, influenced the artwork. The piece ultimately represents the Sun, the first thing you see. Visual art is open to interpretation, and it is up to the viewer to decide what they see. The inspiration came from Eid al-Adha, which emphasises charity, good deeds, fasting, and the pilgrimage to Mecca — an important time for Muslims.

I love how the concept of origami and the theme of sacrifice came together. Communication is key in art. You have to play with elements to convey the message effectively.

We shot the piece at sunrise at 5.30 am. in the desert, which was a beautiful experience. It had been a long time since I had been out that early, and it added a special touch to the shoot.

— The project is beautiful. So, now let’s talk about you. You were raised in Canada and Dubai. How did Canada happen?

— My dad's side of the family left South Africa during apartheid and moved to Canada in the 1970s. We were born in Canada and later moved to Dubai.

My parents were looking for a change and wanted to explore their interest in Islam. We went on holiday to Dubai in 1999, and by 2001, we had sold everything in Canada and moved to Dubai.

— Your dad opened a clinic in Dubai. What clinic was it?

My dad is a chiropractor, as I am. He opened a clinic about 20 years ago in Jumeirah. It is called the Canadian Chiropractic Center.

Instagram: @dr.azra

— And your mom?

My mom is involved in various aspects of natural health. She used to do iridology, which is really cool. It is where you take a really clear photo of the eye to understand the health of different organs through the eyes. She has also done a bunch of other things like reflexology. Recently, she has been doing cupping, also known as Hijama, where they let blood out. She also deals a lot with what we call prophetic medicine, which includes natural remedies like black seed, honey, and Indian costus. So, our house is very healthy.

But actually, my mom studied fashion. So, it was always present when we were growing up. I used to do a lot of makeup, sewing courses, and art classes. That was always a big part of what we loved.

Chiropractic was suggested by my dad, and I studied it in Australia, which was really intriguing. The combination of both interests was perfect.

While studying, I also took a makeup course and did a lot of makeup for photo shoots. Like most university students, I worked multiple jobs: in retail, waitressing, and designing clothes for the Student Union. Designing clothes was my first delve into creating things people would wear, which was fun.

— I noticed that your granny often appears on your Instagram with her hands covered in henna. She was also featured in a Vogue video. Seems like you are very close to her, right?

— Yeah, definitely. Growing up in Canada, we lived with her during my first years. Her house had a forest-like backyard, and beside that was a pond where we would go ice skating. I spent much time with my grandma, so I have always been close to her.

She lives with us in Dubai. I often ask her opinion on my henna designs. Some are too modern for her, but the ones she likes usually become popular.

Instagram: @dr.azra

— You came to Dubai when you were 12 — a quite fragile age. Do you remember that time?

— Yeah, it was very challenging initially. I remember our first semester at Dubai National School, which is private and follows an American curriculum. We naturally gravitated towards the students who spoke English, and that was a fun semester.

However, my parents realised we weren't actually learning Arabic, which is a common issue for people moving to Dubai. So, we transferred to a full Arabic school, a Jordanian school in Jumeirah. All the books there were in Arabic, and that is when things got really hard.

We had a basic foundational education in Arabic, knowing how to write, read, and some grammar. But now, subjects like math, chemistry, and physics were all in Arabic. It was a whole new world. That was really difficult, and that is where the real challenges began. I don't remember much of that first semester, but the following years were tough.

— And your classmates?

— They were always nice. Initially, most of them just spoke Arabic. We connected over things like the Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys, as much as we could connect in English.

They all were very sweet, and I picked up Emirati Arabic. We were already Muslim, but we also adapted to the Emirati style. It made us feel like part of the community, which is really nice when you move somewhere new, especially when you are younger. The community here has been very welcoming, and I have nothing but good things to say about it.

— As your parents are involved in the health industry, was it obvious that you would become a chiropractor?

— I had the freedom to choose, but if I stayed in Dubai, my options were limited. At 18, I really wanted to travel, so when Australia was offered as an option, I took it. I love chiropractic and the human body; it is so interesting. The more you learn, the more you realise how much you don't know — there is always more to discover.

I am very grateful to have studied chiropractic. It is a blessing to be able to help others with your hands. I practice part-time, about two half-days per week, because I tend to take on people's emotions too much. Despite that, helping people in this way is powerful, rewarding, and fulfilling.

— Now, please, a wise piece of advice from Dr. Azra, the chiropractor.

— Quite obvious things: make sure you are moving every day, eating well, and maintaining a balanced diet. One of the key pieces of advice I give to my patients when they are in pain, especially those sitting at a desk, is to move around every 20 minutes. Check your posture, see how you are sitting, and the height of your desk and computer. Aim to be in a neutral position as much as possible, with good back support, and avoid leaning, which can cause problems.

The best exercise, if it doesn't cause pain, is simply walking every day. It is easy, beneficial, and gets you moving. Going to the beach is also great; we aren't getting enough sun, light, minerals, or fresh air nowadays. At the beach, you get sun, minerals from the water, and fresh air. Actually, going outdoors is the best thing for the mind, soul, and body. If you can get to a beach, do it as much as possible. It is incredibly beneficial.

Instagram: @dr.azra

— Got it! So now, about you as an artist. You started with designing handbags. Do you remember the very first one?

— When I moved back from Australia to Dubai, my first job was with a chiropractor who, unfortunately wasn't giving me many patients. I had a lot of free time and gave myself the challenge to make a few things I thought were completely impossible. One of them was croissants. I didn't do a very good job, by the way, haha. Another was macarons, and the third was sourdough, which I initially failed at but am doing well with now. The last challenge was to make a handbag.

The first bag I made was from fabric scraps I had around the house, and it turned out to be an awful little backpack. It took me three weeks to make. After that, I made another bag, and people started noticing. One of my friends said I should start selling them, so I kept going.

I made a bucket bag, which became popular around the time Mansur Gavriel bucket bags were all the rage. I basically started my brand with that bucket bag, leveraging social media. Some girls posted about it online, and it did really well. I kept going until COVID when I realised I needed a break from retail and making bags.

— What did you do during COVID?

— I spent a lot of time making sourdough. I really perfected it after the initial attempts years before. I was also making Japanese omelets and finally learned how to make my own coffee.

Those were the three things I was making the most. Additionally, that is when I started making my own henna cones. It was funny because I decided to put a pause on retail, and within three weeks, I started selling another product, the henna cones.

— For those who still don’t know, could you please tell us how it all started with henna?

— My henna journey started in 2017. In Dubai, when a woman gets married, there is often a henna party. So, there was one, and we all had to put henna on. I spent ages scrolling on Instagram for inspiration and eventually chose a traditional design. It is simple, often considered a "grandmother design," with a circle and tips on the fingers.

The week after the wedding, I had a handbag photo shoot. It was a big year for my brand, with major investments and the launch of a website. By luck, the great photographer Cheb Moha helped with the shoot. The model was late, so we hung out in the desert and photographed my hands with a camel. Those photos did really well online.

Seeing those images changed my perspective on henna completely. I began trying different styles. My online presence grew naturally, and having established contacts through my handbag business helped with the development of henna in the fashion design space. It was really nice to see it grow.

Photo: Cheb Moha. Instagram: @dr.azra

— In one interview, you said that your best works are created after midnight with Netflix playing in the background. Is it still so?

— I think I have changed a lot since then. I have slept and woke up much earlier, especially in the past year. However, I still find that the hour around midnight, when it is dead quiet, is incredibly productive. It is just you and your thoughts and a tool, which is henna for me. I love working at that time because my creative juices flow best when it is really quiet. Once I am in a flow, having some background noise is also helpful, especially if the work is going to take a long time, which is usually the case.

— As I understand, you do henna yourself. How long did it take you to perfect the consistency?

— I remember a year before this, I did a workshop where I did my own research, bought ingredients, and made henna. I also brought some ready-made cones, but they didn't work. There was no colour, and I was puzzled.

During COVID, I did a live session on Instagram, which I rarely do. Someone asked if I made my own henna and what my experience was. I mentioned my previous failed attempt. A girl named Joey, who used to be a quite active henna artist on Instagram, reached out and offered to teach me. We got on a call, and she told me what ingredients to buy. My first attempt failed because I bought henna powder from a regular supermarket, and it wasn't fresh.

Joey explained that henna powder needs to be fresh, and you need to know where it is coming from. She shared her recipe, which was similar to the standard ones you find on YouTube, but with really pure ingredients.

This really changed everything for me. I started selling henna and stickers, and it all took off from there.

— Are you going to explore another material?

— I make jewelry, and I only work with gold. It is so beautiful and feminine. I draw the designs and then it is a lot of back and forth with the makers in the jewelry workshops here in Dubai.

Hopefully, I will launch my jewelry pieces soon. Since I post so much about henna, trying something new makes me a bit nervous.

— I can't help but ask about the horse you covered with henna hearts. Could you please share this story?

— When I first started the brand, we did a lot of research on the history of henna. We discovered that henna was used on horses in miniature drawings in Iran and other countries. I thought that was so cool and decided I would do henna on a horse one day.

My sister is an endurance rider, so she is at the stable daily. I asked her if I could do henna on a white horse. Eventually, it worked out with the owner's horse, Alik. He held the horse while I made a simple design of hearts for it.

It was a beautiful experience. I am scared of riding horses, but I love being close to animals. I always give camels a little massage when I see them — the chiropractor in me just wants to make them feel good.

So, our family went out to the stable, and everyone watched as I put henna on the horse. My mom took photos, and the image was later shot by Cheb Moha, the same photographer who took the camel photos.

It was a really beautiful experience, and I hope to do more of it. It felt so nice to be close to the horse and to create art in that way.

— Okay, so how would you describe your art in a few words?

— I would say… feelings, feminine and then… beauty.

To me, henna captures the feminine energy of a woman — the colour and the way it enhances a woman's appearance. It is also about beauty. I find henna really beautiful, and it makes you feel good when you wear it. It has a great vibe and has always been used for celebratory moments, making it such a great accessory.

I love to connect with my feminine side as much as I can, and henna allows me to do that. So, I hope that comes through in my work.

by Alexandra Mansilla