Shanish Mishra

Mentawai: Shadows of the Rainforest

A visual narrative documenting the lives of the Mentawai people on Siberut Island, Indonesia. Often called the ""Flower People"" for their connection to nature, they maintain a spiritual lifestyle deeply interwoven with the jungle.

This essay follows the rhythm of their daily life: from the vastness of their rainforest home and the intensity of the traditional hunt, to the intricate art of Titi (tattooing) that preserves their history on their skin. It captures intimate moments inside the Uma (longhouse) - a matriarch carrying leaves, elders sharing tobacco, and the joy of community - documenting a fading harmony between humanity and the wild.