Mehndi Design

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The Peacock Project

The aims of this project was to offer pupils in a rural Shropshire a multicultural arts experience with arts professionals working within Asian traditions.

Venue: Condover CE Infant School, Shropshire

Mehndi Design

I provided a one-day workshop at the school for Classes 2 and 4. I discussed with the pupils the history and uses of mehndi (henna). I took books showing examples of mehndi designs, including a book produced by myself. I demonstrated on the hands of both the children and the teachers, the application of mehndi and talked about the meanings of the designs and when they would be used. Pupils studied the books of designs and used them as inspiration for their own. They developed their pencil drawings onto wooden blocks using the mehndi in piping bags. 50 blocks were wired together to create a huge wall hanging which was been offered to the community hall in Condover as a permanent display.

The original sketches were taken to Jackfield Tile Museum for a day’s design workshop. Educators talked to pupils about the history of the tile museum and explained that the original tiles for the Peacock tile panel at the Royal Palace in Mysore, India, were produced at Jackfield Museum in 1907 and they were shown a replica of the panel. Pupils’ designs were adapted for application onto tiles and the images were copied in ‘slip’ using piping bags. They needed to think about simplifying their designs in order to keep the tile uncluttered. They chose up to a maximum of three colours and painted their designs. This process has remained constant since the beginning of the tile factory. These tiles were fired by the museum staff and will form a tile panel for the entrance hall of the school.

Museum staff explained the process of intaglio printing and its meaning. The children went on to etch their original designs into Perspex squares. They had to remember that the print would be a mirror image of the drawing. These were ‘inked up’ and with the use of a press, intaglio prints were made. Further ‘runs’ of prints were made in various colour ways.

Dance

Vijay Mehay came to school to teach the children traditional Punjabi folk dance, Bhangra. Classes 1 and 3 spent two days learning dances with Vijay on the tabla (drums). He talked to them about the history of Bhangra and when it is performed. The first dance depicted the story of harvest time in the Punjab and the second was the celebration at the end of the harvest. The dances were intricate, extremely physical and dynamic.

Exhibition and Performance

Families, members of the local community, members of County and District Council arts departments, local church leaders and members were invited to the final exhibition and performance. The tile work was on display which brought many complimentary responses, the brilliant colours and designs of the ceramic tiles were stunning and the wooden tiles created an amazing display on the school wall.

Visitors were greatly impressed at the energetic and dramatic dance performances, particularly bearing in mind the ages of the children. Every child and teacher was in Asian costume which added to the colour and flavour of the dance. The hall was decorated with prayer flags and Asian posters. Asian food had been brought from a sweet centre in Wolverhampton and the audience enjoyed samosas and burfi with lassi and mango juice.

The enthusiasm and hard work of the staff and helpers at Condover CE Primary School helped to make this project such a huge success. The school completed their SATS in the period between the Mehndi design and the dance workshops and yet staff were able to incorporate the Peacock Project theme cross-curricula. Displays of Asian costume and art were placed around the school, giving an overall atmosphere for the subject.

The project met National Curriculum requirements:

  • Visual elements – including colour, pattern and texture, line and tone, shape, form and space, and how these elements can be combined and organised for different purposes
  • Materials and processes used in making art, craft and design and how these can be matched to ideas and intentions
  • Differences and similarities in the work, roles and purposes of artists, craftspeople and designers working in different times and cultures
  • Discussing the role and function of art

Exploring and developing ideas :–

  • Collecting visual and other information to help develop their ideas
  • Selecting and recording from first-hand observation, experience and imagination for different purposes

Investigating and making art, craft and design :-

  • Applying their experience and developing their control of tools and techniques. Adapting their work and describing how they might develop it further.
  • Using a variety of methods and approaches to communicate observations, ideas and feelings, and design and make images and artefacts
  • Working with images and techniques from different historical, social and cultural contexts. Making connections with their own local history and heritage with those of another culture.
  • Use this information to develop ideas, taking account of purpose and audience

Links with other areas of the curriculum:

  • Literacy – writing, speaking, reading, listening.
  • Design & Technology
  • IT
  • Key Skills – communication, working with others, improving own learning and performance
  • Citizenship – learning about and appreciating other cultures in our society
  • History
  • Geography
  • Music, Drama, Art

With thanks to:

For funding:

  • Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust
  • Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council
  • Condover CE Primary School

For resources:

  • Schools Multi-Cultural Development Service

And thanks to staff, helpers and families at Condover CE Primary School for their enthusiasm and support.
This project was initiated and managed by Carol Overs of 'Gallery Comes to School'.