A Mother-Sons’ Mehendi & Arts Business - Noureen Sultana on Embracing the Indian Artistic Tradition Across Generations
People do things and are creative sometimes, out of necessity. For me, creativity has been a passion of mine.” Today’s woman dreamer, Noureen Sultana is the owner of “Noureen Design”, a family-run Arts and Event Planning business. A talented artists, she holds 7 Gold Medals from the All India Industrial Exhibition across various mediums including Painting, Henna (Mehndi) and various type of Arts. The creativity runs in the family, as Noureen’s sons, Danish and Mahid are embracing the family business. Noureen states, “I always take my sons to many social events where they would show their work of art and would get appreciation and inspiration from the community. This has been one of the major factors for my sons to contribute equally in this business”. An exciting small business based in our Boston community, enjoy the story behind this mother-sons Arts business
1. Your henna designs are incredible, and you are also incredible at other forms of art. Tell us your story. What inspired your passion for henna and your creativity?
I’m the owner of ‘Noureen Design’ a family business. There are many forms of art that my family has been in for generations, I mainly specialize in paintings, I use my expertise in painting and incorporate such designs into my henna artwork. I grew up seeing this many times in my childhood, therefore, this art has been a great part of my life since my early age. As time passed by, I began to realize that color and design is a passion for me. You know people do things and are creative sometimes, out of necessity. For me, this has been a passion of mine. After moving to the United states of America, I kept this passion alive and began to impress not only the South Asian community here in New England but also non-South Asian communities alike. I took my inspiration from art museums, art galleries, art exhibits, animals and nature (greenery, birds, etc.) I got a lot of love and appreciation from the community here and my creativity began to flourish. I also give credit to my mother, Zaheer Unisa Begum and my grandmother, Mehmooda Khatun for giving me this art.
2) Your son has also joined your Mehendi business. A mother-son business. What has it been like running this business with your son? What were some of the lessons you learned from each other? And how did you teach him about mehendi?
Both my sons Mahid Khan and Danish Khan were very interested in creative activity. Something I would say, they got this talent from our family culture. Regardless of age, I began to realise that my sons have been naturally gifted with art. Of course, the moment I realised I supported and put efforts to encourage and boost up their talents in different forms of art.. I would also emphasize that confidence plays a pivotal role when it comes to becoming very creative. Therefore, I always take my sons to many social events where they would show their work of art and would get appreciation and inspiration from the community. This has been one of the major factors for my sons to contribute equally in this business. And you know, kids are creative and they give you surprises. So, yes, both my sons surprise me with their creativity and originality in their paintings, henna and other forms of artwork
3) How do you find inspiration for your art and design?
America is a melting-pot. It is a diverse society which incamposses incredible cultures and ethnicities. The environment itself is one of the major factors which gave me encouragement to revive and rebrand our business and introduce it to the new England community.
4) You have been very involved in the South Asian community of New England. Share some of your community involvements that are close to your heart.
I have been involved in the community for many years. One of the things I like to share is that representing our culture through the work of art has been a greater achievement in this community. Most of the time, I travel to different events to represent our traditions and values through the work of art. In my case I choose different forms of arts from south asian culture and communities to express and show my own uniquity in such South Asian Culture and communities. I love this work and gives inspiration and strength to carry it on further.
5) What is your next big dream?
The continuation of this business at a broader level is one of the next big dreams and a challenging task, though. America is big and there is a bigger community in other parts of the US. I hope that one day, I can achieve my fathers dream, I aim to expand our family business in other areas of the world and hold exhibitions in places such as the UK, Dubai, India, and other countries. And also would like to open a Art School in Massachusetts It may be a long and hard path but I am very committed to walk on it.
Check out some of Noureen’s work below!
Thank you Noureen for sharing your family’s inspiring story with us! We are excited to have you in our empowered women’s network!
Bio: Noureen was born and raised in the City of Pearls, Hyderabad, the home to India’s leading Artists and Poets. She has earned her fame in New England with the fine art of Mehndi (Henna), her main expertise is in hand painting, she has taken this form of art to the next level by making paintings inspired by Indian, Moughal, Turkish & Persian motifs. Noureen completed her Civil Draftsmanship and Architecture from the Indo British Academy in 1990 and has learned various art from her mother, such as Water color Painting, Emboss Painting, Nib Painting and Glass Painting, all types of stitching and Henna (Mehndi). She holds 7 Gold Medals from the All India Industrial Exhibition in various Categories: Henna (Mehndi), Embroidery, Water color painting, Oil Painting & Fabric Painting.