Meet…Copper Existence!
My name is Victoria of Copper Existence. I am an Interfaith Reverend and Henna Artist.
I was introduced to henna art many years ago, during a festival and was immediately mesmerized by the luscious stain and intricate design.
Three years ago, my henna artist offered to teach me and I haven’t looked back.
I’m now a lifelong student of the art form and eager to share it with you.
Can you give a brief history of this artform? What’s the difference between Henna and Jagua?
The use of henna has been documented for more than a thousand years, stretching back to ancient Egypt. It is a plant (Lawsonia Inermis) that grows natively in northern Africa, India and parts of the Middle East and has many uses across these cultures. It has cooling properties that aid in temperature regulation, along with UV protection and other therapeutic benefits. It has become popular in the west over the years, often credited from Indian Bridal designs, called Mehendi. The henna paste stains the skin (deep orange, red, brown) by binding to proteins and slowly disappears as the skin naturally sheds over the course of two to three weeks.
Jagua is a fruit from central and south America (Genipa Americana) and stains a deep blue or black, giving the tattoo look. All stain, no pain. You may have seen it used without realizing it, on many South American tribes in ritual. The application of Jagua is the same as henna, painted on the skin and left to dry. Once washed away, the design remains for a few weeks until the skin naturally sheds.
What about Henna/Jagua tattooing resonates with you?
I enjoy all aspects of these all-natural products, from the preparation to watching a stain slowly fade away. I’m consistently in awe of the science; how the lawsone molecules bind to the proteins in our skin or when a rogue Jagua stain appears on the bottom of the foot.
When I’m adorning others or wearing the designs myself it’s an opportunity to honor the beauty of impermanence: Henna and Jagua offer a snapshot in time, whether on a whim, a practice of self-care, of celebration, grief, or joy.
It’s a beautiful modality to honor our aliveness and connection.
What are some things you tell people who have come to the market and have never been worked on before?
This particular market is a lot of fun, with plenty of variety and great music. I’m proud to be a vendor with this event and encourage the community to come enjoy the Colorado sun while supporting local businesses. When people stop by my booth, I love finding out if they found anything surprising or exciting. Not only to see them smile and tell me about their experience, but secretly it helps me find out where I need to visit while on break.
What’s your favorite, or most-interesting, or most challenging etc design that you’ve done on a customer so far?
The most fun and challenging design was a woodsprite, the Eywa seed from the movie Avatar.
It was a custom request from a student who was willing to let me try my best to recreate it!
What are you focusing on in this new year with your business, your expression, or otherwise?
My focus for this year is to incorporate more geometrical patterns into my designs and reveal a rebrand for the henna side of my business. It’ll be exciting and paired with special promotions. Be on the lookout!
Follow Victoria and say hi on Instagram @copperexistence. That is where she markets events and engage most with her community as it grows!
