Laurence Miller Gallery takes pleasure in presenting Night of the Henna, an exhibition of seven color still-life photographs by Moroccan-born artist Lalla Essaydi.  Night of the Henna refers to the first night of a Moroccan wedding during which the bride is adorned with henna and presented with gifts that encourage good fortune, health and happiness.

Lalla Essaydi has written: “Henna is a crucial element in the life of a Moroccan woman, and is associated with the major celebrations in her life. It is first applied when a girl reaches puberty, to mark her passage into womanhood.  When she is a bride it is used to enhance her charms for her husband. Finally, it is applied when she has her first child, to celebrate fertility. Especially when that firstborn is male.”

In each of the seven still-lifes, traditional objects are completely decorated by the artist in henna:

Eggs suggest fragility and femininity, and above all, fertility.

Candles symbolize light, to lighten the bride's life in marriage and motherhood.

Sugar cones are to sweeten the transition from the bride's father's home, and a carefree
state, to a more responsible role in her husband's home.

Virginal white flowers become emblems of fragrance and purity.

White shoes foretell the dress she will wear the next day when she meets her husband.

White fava bean powder will become the mask the bride will wear during the 
Hamman ceremony which follows the Henna night.

The bundles represent gifts from the groom, usually made of embroidered silk displayed on
large trays and transported on horse-drawn carts.

Lalla Essaydi quickly attained international recognition for her series Converging Territories, both through numerous exhibitions and the recently published monograph from powerHouse Books. She presently has a one-person show at the Columbus Museum of Art in Ohio, and is featured in NAZAR, an important survey of contemporary middle-eastern photography at Aperture’s new gallery through September 8th. Her work are in the public and private collections of, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Williams College Museum of Art,  the Columbus Museum of Art, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the Kresge Art Museum, and the Fries Museum in the Netherlands.

Converging Territories
Apparel II, 2003
20 x 24" chromogenic print

Converging Territories
Apparel III, 2003
20 x 24" chromogenic print

Converging Territories
Apparel VI, 2003
20 x 24" chromogenic print

Converging Territories
Apparel IV, 2003
20 x 24" chromogenic print

Converging Territories
Apparel I, 2003
20 x 24" chromogenic print

Converging Territories
Apparel V, 2003
20 x 24" chromogenic print

Converging Territories
Apparel VII, 2003
20 x 24" chromogenic print