Today we’d like to introduce you to Mediha Sandhu.
Hi Mediha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
The concept of art could literally mean anything to anyone. It is precisely because art can mean anything to anyone that anyone can say, “This is what art means to me”. The difficulty lies in fleshing out more explicitly what it means to the individual, why it means what it means, and the underlying reasons behind it.
For a cultural insider, identity is something one rarely needs to think about. It is so intertwined with the fabric of one’s surrounding reality that they barely realize it exists. But for a cultural outsider, identity quickly becomes something that rises to the forefront of one’s conscious experience. There’s a period of time, one’s circle of peers and experience begins to extend beyond their family and the once closed off world that they’re familiar with, and through the crucible of this realization, identity is no longer an invisible force taken for granted, but a working and visible force that actively competes at the forefront of one’s self.
My art reflects what I experienced during the dawning realization that there was more to this world than what I had assumed to be comfortable, and the still going struggles to reconcile this long after the fact. I continue to experiment with visual media tools to further tell narratives that are common to many within the Pakistani-American Muslim community, but not restricted to that particular demographic. These semi-autobiographical narratives try to provide a glimpse into what it means to be a Pakistani-American Muslim in the 21st century.
Illustration was a large part of my life. Some of my works include a series of webcomics, titled Ninjabi, that are semi-autobiographical about what it’s like to be a Pakistani-American Muslim in American society and trying to navigate between two cultures, with friends. The focus was not on faith, but rather the social norms of both cultures and how a child was experiencing some very difficult topics, but with a touch of humor that helped many relate to the stories. I wanted my community to have a way to read these quick little comics about some topics, and be able to think or discuss them in their own way. The comics were very successful and I had many people reach out to me telling me how they used these in their classrooms or discussed them with their families. Some were not even Muslims, as I had some Jewish schools also reach out to me talking about how they also related to these topics and comics and were able to use them with their students to discuss similar issues they faced.
Photography was also a major part of my life. I used to take photographs of things that I never saw before, things that looked interesting to me, or things that I could use as a memento of times and experiences. Eventually, I started photographing events, on the side at first, as my initial goal was to become a professor. And if I could create art pieces that would go to shows/galleries, then that would be a welcomed accomplishment. My art pieces were a mix of photography and digital illustrations that further discussed the third space, relating to what Homi Bhabha expanded on in his book The Location of Culture, regarding the new identity of, in my case, Pakistani-American. Where I am not fully Pakistani, nor am I fully American, but this new hybrid unlike any other. Even though many can relate, the experience is unique to everyone, and my passion was to try to relate my versions of experiences, what formed who I am, my thoughts and feelings, in a way to invite outsiders in, but also for my community to relate. I have always felt misunderstood and had this deep desire to explain myself so thoroughly. This work helped me do some of that.
Fall of 2016, I began teaching my first class as a professor at Rutgers University. This was the dream achieved, even as nervous as I was. I got married in October 2016. Everything felt like it was falling into place, and I felt this internal sense of belonging.
December however upended everything, devastating me. My best friend since age 14, my biggest supporter, my webcomic co-creator and character based friend, suddenly passed away. (Here is a post she made to surprise me with once that helps depict how close we were : https://www.tumblr.com/mybestfriendismuslim/5638511151/besties-for-14-years-and-still-going). Natalia was my living diary. I could not function. 10 days later, I almost died from an ectopic pregnancy, something I never knew about. I had only found out the day before that I was pregnant, so when it ruptured, and I was in excruciating pain, I had no idea what was going on and only worried about the baby. On the way to the hospital and while waiting in the ER, I did not have the strength to open my eyes anymore and just laid there, wondering if this is how Natalia felt this way as she passed. I was slowly internally bleeding to death and it was oddly peaceful. At some point I just accepted it and told myself, it’s ok, I will just go to sleep now. Then the pain started as my internal organs began to shift from all the blood that was filling inside me. They did emergency surgery to save my life, I lost a tube, the doctor said my heart beat was strong and the blood was squirting out so cutely (I know it was strange to hear but I guess she meant well) and I had lost over 2 liters of blood, had 2 blood transfusions and stayed in the hospital for 4 days. The pain, I could deal with as I had a high threshold for pain, but being stuck in bed I was constantly reminded about the loss of my best friend. I would think, oh let me just tell her this story and then I would remember… I was never the same after that. Later I had found out Natalia’s parents broke down hearing I was in the hospital and said they could not handle it if I also was lost. I am still a part of their lives. Her and her cousins, and aunts and uncles, were my family too.
The following spring, I was put on medication because I kept having anxiety attacks, and I taught 1 last class as a professor at Rutgers University. The students honestly were very rude and ridiculous so I had no patience left to deal with them, and graded them accordingly. For example if they did not do the assignment, I gave them an F on that assignment. I’m not sure why they assumed I would be easy simply because I did not argue with them, I just accepted and graded. The indifference was partially my experience and medication. I was not in the best state of mind, so I stopped pursuing teaching.
I worked as a photo editor for a short time, to just get me into a regular schedule and routine, until that bored me. I then started doing Photography full time, under the brand Ninjabi Studios. There was something healing in photographing events with children, seeing them be happy and adorable, that made me feel like I was doing something worthwhile with my life. I gained a wonderful reputation and most of my work was referrals.
I was eventually picked to work for and run an editing company called Edit Cafe. Several people had referred me to the owners that when I applied they responded saying they had already known about me and were going to pitch to me anyway. I was excellent with the work, so much so that they promoted me twice, to the point I was managing the whole operation. I noticed that of all our editors, most of them were making similar errors, and with 11 of them and just 1 of me, perhaps there was something wrong with me. I had mentioned it with the owners, and they said I was just meticulous.
My fathers’ side has neurological issues, so I became concerned that perhaps I had a neurological issue as well. Perhaps early onset dementia. I got tested with a neuropsychologist and I can’t explain the level of relief I had when I found out I had ADHD. The diagnosis explained so much of my life, and I was told I had scored very high within my peer group, and that since I made it this far in life without medication, I could continue this way, but if I needed, I could always look into treatment. Eventually, as I learned more “tips and tricks” for ADHD, I realized I might be autistic as well. The process to get diagnosed for autism as an adult is much more expensive and insurance does not cover it, so I waited until I could manage to do it. I was diagnosed as Level 1 autistic in 2025. This enlightenment was so welcomed and appreciated by me. However, within South Asian culture, these things are not considered real, especially with someone who is able to accomplish as much as I had, and it’s considered imaginary, or excuses. The gaslighting I get from my immediate family places me back into the same position I was in as a child, where I wanted to explain myself but was being misunderstood. Now I knew why simple tasks like making rice were impossible for me, but making a complex chicken curry was easy for me.
My photography started to expand and grow. I eventually was referred to women in conservative communities that wanted me to do boudoir photography for them. They wanted a woman photographer/team, that they felt safe with, that would not publish their photos. I realized that I was the perfect fit for this, and did some market research asking my community/friends/family if anyone would be interested in this type of service, and I had 15 women respond back saying if I did this, they would be interested in it. I soft launched Hijabi Boudoir, and did a few shoots, with the goal of expanding and marketing it to all conservative communities using paid models.
In recent years I had taken less work to help care for my father. He had Parkinson’s, and was not taking care of himself, like a typical South Asian elder, and dismissed his medications and doctors as not very serious. I took him to physical, occupational, and speech therapy. I would make sure he ate his meals, as the Parkinson’s medication caused dementia. I made sure he took his medications, I had to take his car keys away because he thought he could still drive. He had moments where he had psychosis, calling up people saying I had thrown him in the basement and it was dark and cold, or left him under a bridge. I sacrificed my business to support him, but to me it was worth everything. He was my father, he took care of me, he provided for me.
My father passed away last year. I have not been marketing or doing much business for several years, but I plan to slowly start up again. Had a baby, which is its own story (loss of a twin, pre-eclampsia, baby born at 29 weeks, baby in the NICU for 2 months). I am trying to be present and enjoy all the moments I can in my child’s life since they grow up so fast. Now I associate shoot for other photographers, take a few jobs of my own, launching a new brand under the name Studio Zayra to focus more on Studio portraits instead of events, try to work on Hijabi Boudoir more, and also work on more personal projects. I plan to animate my webcomics for a new generation, and also create children’s books with the same characters from the webcomics. Focus on producing products for Ninjabi comics and books, expand on several products that will appeal to the Pakistani-American community and their friends. I already have a doll that sells, and my goal is to create more dolls and toys for the community. I want my people to feel like it’s ok to be themselves and they don’t need to conform to the ideals of others just to fit in. As my child grows, there are items I want her to have that I do not find on the market, so why not create them for her and others like her?
(Yes, as you can imagine, ADHD is still going strong for me lol)
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh, as someone that is neurodivergent, I ran into MANY obstacles. Several where I felt that I don’t know what “normal” people wanted, or how to behave like a “normal” person. I would take things too literally not realizing things were not that deep or serious. I had zero business sense and had to crash course learn things, and as the way i am, I need to research all my options and all the information i could before settling on a decision. I did not have any guidance, and since its an art field, my parents felt it was a waste of time so I could not go to them for help to understand anything. I didn’t know my worth either, so pricing things was difficult for me and I often let clients walk all over me because I thought less of myself, that I was not good enough.
I took several courses to grasp ideas even still it would take me time. For example, the inverse square law is a big part of photography lighting. I had Neil van Neikerk explain it to me, as simple as could be, but my brain could not make sense of it. It took me about 2 years to finally understand it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have a Masters of Fine Art degree in Digital Media. This basically means I use the aid of computers to create art, including websites, animation, illustration, painting, photography, etc. I also love traditional illustration and painting. I have won awards for my work, including awards for my animation “Arranged” which one a Lunafest honorary award, won best in animation for LinkTV Onenation award, was in USAToday as well as other publications local to NJ regarding the film, but also about the topic. “Arranged” is a short animated film about arranged marriage. It is multi-layered and starts off with detailed and elaborate illustrations, to imply the luxury of time. By the end of the film, its just quick pencil sketches, that make the viewer feel a sense of urgency. The overall outlook is as a young Muslima girl panicking and jumping to conclusions, even if they may be rash and incorrect. This is intential to imply a more childish mentality. It is not a realistic way of handling things, or even thinking about things, but it is a common shallow view held by many that can relate to it, and maybe find comedy in it.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can reach out to me to collaborate with me at photo@ninjabistudios.com and share and follow my work.
Here are several socials:
www.instagram.com/ninjabistudios (photography events)
www.instagram.com/ninjabiclub (webcomic)
www.instagram.com/thestudiozayra
www.instagram.com/hijabiboudoir
www.ninjabishop.com
Pricing:
- Weddings starting at $2000
- Portraits starting at $1000
- Event coverage starting at $800
- Ninjabi Doll $20
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ninjabistudios.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ninjabistudios
- Facebook: https://fb.com/ninjabistudios
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninjabi
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ninjabistudios
