Taanishi! Hello! My name is sharai mustatia aka princess shredder.

As a guest residing on the ancestral and unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), əl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ/ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) peoples, commonly known as Vancouver, BC, I navigate life drawing strength from my diverse ancestry and the lands that cradle my existence.

My roots span the Red River Métis and Romania, with my birthplace nestled in Treaty 4, or Regina, Saskatchewan. Amidst the journey of self-healing and discovery, photography emerged as a powerful tool in my recovery from complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Through the lens, I found solace and a profound sense of belonging, replacing the isolating veil of trauma with interconnectedness.

In my pursuit of comprehending my Métis identity and ancestral lineage, photography has been my guiding light, offering clarity about my origins and the communities to which I belong. My artistic expression ventures into experimental film and techniques, weaving layers of meaning to evoke profound emotions within my images. I manipulate color, distort time and place, embedding messages that reflect my quest for identity, place, and belonging.

While my heart beats for analogue photography, I also explore the digital realm, using my personal creations as a canvas for self-exploration and discovery. Photography isn’t merely an art form for me; it's a lifeline through life's chaotic moments, a means to unearth the intrinsic beauty within, and a pathway to transformative healing. With every click of the shutter, I exhale stress and grief, inching closer to inner peace.

Collaboration fuels my creative spirit. I revel in merging clients' ideas with my vision, crafting images that resonate with pride and authenticity. Recently, I crafted an analogue photography workshop, a space where I share the craft's secrets and intentional experimentation gleaned from over a decade of learning. Guiding others through the magic of film photography brings me immense joy, unraveling the transformative power of creativity nestled within each individual.

My journey is an amalgamation of resilience, artistic expression, and a relentless pursuit of identity and belonging. Through photography, I aim not just to capture moments but to unravel the profound depth of human experience, inviting others to partake in this enchanting voyage of self-discovery and healing.