The Style Writers
Sight Zilla and Menes One interview graffiti artists and graffiti writers.
The Style Writers
Pansy Upn Interview
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Up-and-coming Colombian graffiti writer Pansy sits with Sight Zilla in Coney Island live and uncut to talk graffiti, politics, and being new in the scene. Shy but real, Pansy has much depth to her perspective on life and art.
I'm here in New York, uh Colony Island. Um we're gonna interview Pansy, a graffiti rider from Colombia. Um we got a special guest with us, also this kid under the table that's crying next to us. And uh we're at this restaurant, I can't really pronounce it, but it's Italian. Um over here in Cullen Island. So we got a couple next to us that look like they're really romantic, but I guess it doesn't matter. But we're here um live and uncut, as you can hear, very romantic setting right now. Uh you can hate it or love it. But I guess the first question we have for you, Pansy, is why the name Pansy?
SPEAKER_02So Pansy to me, well it has like different meanings for different people. Um like you know for most people Pansy is somebody who um is not as confident who is I don't know like a scare or whatever. But to me it's a flower. It's actually my favorite flower, the first flower that I got because of my grandma. And that's why it's meaningful to me. And I also like the way that it has a double meaning to it. So it's like to each person's interpretation.
SPEAKER_01So like you're you're born and raised in Colombia, right?
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01So is from your from the time that you've been doing graffiti, um do you think there's a difference in the graffiti culture between from America and um Colombia? Or do you think it's all the same?
SPEAKER_02I feel like it's all the same, but I honestly could not tell you because I haven't practiced graffiti in Colombia, so I don't know how they operate exactly. But I feel like it's all the same in the way that people do it for the same reason, uh, get for the thrill, for the passion of it, um, self-expression. But I definitely think I definitely noticed that um in Colombian Bogota it's a little more active. Um kinda how it is in most oppressed cities in a way, or cities where there's more rebellion, there's more people to do things different. So that's probably why.
SPEAKER_01But you know, like they said some kids got killed. Some kid got killed for doing the feeding, so now everyone's okay with it. Okay. I heard there's some story, I don't know there's no truth to it.
SPEAKER_02Yes, so that's kind of more of a recent thing.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_02Well, I guess like 2018 type of to me it's relatively recent. Um, so yes, there was this kid who got killed, I don't remember his name. And that changed the way graffiti is viewed over there. Um, in a sense that it is decriminalized. So but the the cops still can go after you and stuff and stuff like that.
SPEAKER_01The cops still go after you?
SPEAKER_02Yes, but they don't serve they don't make you serve time like here. They just take you to the UPJ, which is like overnight stay.
SPEAKER_00Okay.
SPEAKER_01Um I know you haven't been doing graffiti for that long, but so far on your graffiti journey, what has graffiti done for you? For like how would you explain it for people that's never done it and they're like they despise it in some kind of way? How would you how would you explain that to them?
SPEAKER_02Um well to me what graffiti has given me is a sense of community. I have met a lot of great people from different backgrounds because of graffiti. Um it has taught me that it's okay that not everybody is like me or anything like that.
SPEAKER_01Um it's um it's there's some people that come into the graffiti world and they don't have the same experience as you. Their experiences are kind of bad, are very negative. Um how do you feel about that? Like, how do you would you I mean like how would you feel? Like what would you say to them? Because there's people out there that'd be like graffiti fucked up my life, but what would you say to that?
SPEAKER_02Um so far graffiti has not fucked up my life. Um if anything it has given a purpose in a way that it makes me want to travel more just to see graffiti or or do graffiti. Um I started with graffiti mostly as an spectator and I just used to travel just to take photos of graffiti of other people's graffiti. So to me, it really hasn't fucked up my life, or I don't feel like it ever will because it's something that I actually do care about that I'm passionate about and I like it to me. I don't know, people can debate about it, but to me it is art and I don't know, like I don't think I don't think it will ever fuck my life for real.
SPEAKER_01Okay, um I see like on your profiles on your social media profiles you like to post a lot of other people's work. I see you go around the city and you take pictures of people's graffiti. Um a lot of people don't do that, but why do you choose to do that for like why do you choose to take pictures of graffiti? Are you still like the spectator that you started as, or is there a reason for it? Is there a method to why you still do that?
SPEAKER_02I don't know, like I said before my love for graffiti started just because I like the way it looked, I wanted to know more about it, so taking photos of people's graffiti kind of gave me fulfillment in a way. Um purpose. Um I still like taking photos of people's graffiti because before when I didn't know anything about it, um I just did it for the like for like the look of it. And now that you know I've noticed these people like I don't know, like for example, cruise or like learning more deeply into it. I don't even know how to explain it. Like the sense of how it's not just painting a wall, it's also like sisterships, brotherships, or whatever. Uh there's like a community. And even though it has its dramas and stuff like that, it's still like fun to get involved with because I don't know, at the end of it it's just art, it's just self-expression. I don't think people do it for themselves. Um, I feel like it's for others to enjoy, even if some of those people don't really like it, they despise it, despise it. But that's okay too, because it's supposed to cause a reaction. Um I feel like I will continue posting other people's graffiti because I mean that's what I like to do. I still like doing that. Like if I see somebody that I recognize, I still get excited about it. And I've seen some people, I don't know, like LA writers, New York writers in other countries, and that's cool. Other people who just see graffiti don't notice how much goes into that. So that's that's why.
SPEAKER_01Okay. So graffiti is at the moment a male-dominated uh kind of um it's a male-dominated sport. Um how do you feel? Like there's more, there's more and more girls doing graffiti, more women doing graffiti around the world. Um still it's still more men. So being a woman, surrounded by a lot of um men in this sport, how do you navigate uh the safety of it and know who is safe to be around and who is not safe to be around, and who could like how do you how do you like, I don't know how to put it into words, but I don't know how you would work, like how do you know who's safe to be around, who who has your best interest and who's not trying to take advantage of you or or do something to you or use you.
SPEAKER_02That's actually a tough question because you never really know who's like what intentions people got for real. But I trust my gut feeling, so I usually go for that.
SPEAKER_00And I don't know, like I don't know how you go on to trust people.
SPEAKER_02I feel like it will be kind of the same with guys, you never know who you're gonna meet and I mean how trustworthy they are.
SPEAKER_01I mean, like for me, how was the process when I met you? You didn't know me, right? How would you describe that process of getting to know me and trust me without knowing who I was?
SPEAKER_02I guess from initial interactions. So if somebody was to approach me, I don't know, like straight up hitting on me or just saying random stuff, then I would know their intentions are not in the right place. Um but I usually try to have like conversations or try to get to know the person before I meet them because you never really know. But I also really like taking my chances, like taking the risk to just meeting people.
SPEAKER_01It's interesting because like I had a homegirl, she knew this guy for like uh 10 years, right? Never said anything, never thought she was just they were just friends. After 10 years, he finally told her, like, hey, these past ten years, I've been having a crush on you and I'm in love with you. I want to be with you. And she was so mad because she thought like everything that they had built was just for friendship. She didn't think that he was just being her friend to wait for the day that he can actually hook up with her. So, like, I guess it's true what you say, like you never really know. But a lot of women are not, they don't take risks like that. Like, were you just born that way? Someone raised you to be that way.
SPEAKER_02Um, I feel like my brother and I raised each other. That's probably why I no, but like I was raised, of course, as most people are, to not trust the strangers, um, not meet up with the strangers like that, especially in sketchy places. But that's part of graffiti, and I feel like those are risks you gotta take. Um yeah.
SPEAKER_01Okay, that's pretty cool. Alright. Um what with you being very fresh on this graffiti journey? What is it, what are some things that you're trying to work on now? Like what's important for you right now? What are the things you want to work on when it comes to graffiti? Is it like is it the tagging? Is it the bombing? Is it the piecing? Is it the throwies? Is it the can control? Like, what is it? Like, what are you prioritizing? What's important to learn right now? Where you're at?
SPEAKER_02Um definitely all of it. I wanna master all of it. Um but I know that you gotta start from I would say can control, one of the most important ones. Um but yes, I wanna do it all. I wanna work on my piecing, bombing, throw is everything. Um I wanna get good at everything.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, okay. How does it feel? We got into this crew, this graffiti crew. We're not gonna say the name of it. But how does it feel to be in a graffiti crew versus being on your own? Like, do you think a crew matters the being a crew? Because for people that have been in graffiti crews for a long time, they start they start to lose the sometimes the the significance of it. So like you being new, like where what's significant about being from a graffiti crew for you?
SPEAKER_02Um okay, so first uh graffiti has always been like part of my life since a kid. And I've thought about writing graffiti for a while, but I never really did it because I don't know, I was scared or whatever. But by being part of a crew, that kind of gave me the motivation to actually practice it, like not just once every year or anything like that. Like I actually have the motivation to to do it, to do it often and actually get good at it, not just being an expectator. So to me, being part of a crew has helped a lot because everybody that I've met in the crew has been very supportive, um, like very nice. And like sometimes I even ask myself like why am I in a crew, especially in this crew, when I don't really like write like that for real. But sometimes I I like tell myself to just stop asking for those questions and just go for it, like just go with the flow and I don't know, keep working more even harder than I was when I was not in a crew. Um because it does give me the motivation, it makes me want to be as good as a lot of the crew members. So to me it gives me motivation, it gives me purpose, a sense of community for sure. Um and I don't know, I just I love it. I love being part of a crew.
SPEAKER_01Okay. Um now that you're in the world of graffiti, have you seen anybody or seen any people that have been positive influences for your graffiti career that inspire you to do different things? Is there anybody that stands out? Are the people that stand out that kind of like just make you be like, okay, cool. I don't want I wanna do that. I wanna be like that.
SPEAKER_02Yes, a lot. One of them you for real. You always put in work and you're positive. I love how you as a graffiti guy, because most of graffiti guys are in my opinion, like very egocentric. Um very I don't well a lot of graffiti people, not just guys, but they're very egocentric and it's just like a competition and I don't know, I just aspire to to be kind of like you side because you are very supportive with everybody, you are open to everybody. Um so I like that. Um I like how also one of the crew members of Sorak, he just goes crazy. He doesn't give a fuck, he just he wants that spot so he gets it. That's very motivational too.
SPEAKER_01Um yeah, yeah, Sorak's a killer. Him and Indum and uh and hopes, those are some killers right there. I think they're the killers of this generation. Those are um I'm a fan of all those guys, um especially Sir Rock and Indum, Indum's cool. That's one of the coolest kids you ever meet. Um so if if you had a choice, I access to everybody, if you had a choice of a weapon of choice, a scribe, a streak, or a spray can, which one would you choose and why?
SPEAKER_02A streak, hands down a streak. Why? Um before I start doing graffiti, like actually doing graffiti, uh being more of a tiger, so I feel comfortable with a streak.
SPEAKER_00Okay.
SPEAKER_02Um there's not that much science into it as a scribe on a spray can.
SPEAKER_01So do you like just a spray color or you like a mix?
SPEAKER_02Um I like me a mix, uh, but I like mostly blacks and whites.
SPEAKER_01Why those colors?
SPEAKER_02Because they go in most surfaces. Like if there's a white wall, then you use a black streak, and vice versa.
SPEAKER_00Okay.
SPEAKER_02So like they just pretty much go anywhere. Um but a streak, any color will be okay.
SPEAKER_00Okay.
SPEAKER_01Um I guess a question I have for you is um You know about the graffiti towers, right? The oceanwide towers in um LA. And they just got they just bought the building and it's being cleaned up. Um how do you how important do you think it is to have landmarks like that that come and go in our generation? Because the next generation they're not gonna even know about those those towers. So, how important is it to have those cotton events and those landmarks and and graffiti?
SPEAKER_02I guess it's important because it shows that graffiti is there mostly for Personal satisfaction, I guess. Um, or for the thrill of it, like most of the time it's gonna go away. So landmarks like that are important because um because eventually they'll be clean and you can either go back to it.
SPEAKER_01I mean probably not to that one, but I mean like with that being said, with the importance of landmarks being clean there, and people do it for different reasons, what is graffiti more for you? Is it a therapy or just a form of expression or is it something else?
SPEAKER_02To me it's like more the form of expression and also uh the act of rebellion against the system in a way. Um that's what graffiti means to me. It's self-expression and rebellion.
SPEAKER_01Do you think it's important to rebel against the system?
SPEAKER_02Yes. Why? Yes, because the system is not always right. Um so a lot of the times even if we protest, uh we get shut off by the police or the squad or whatever, graffiti kinda is permanent, like it's always gonna be there around, it's always gonna be around. So it's it's a proper way of getting of paying payback.
SPEAKER_01So uh good, interesting. I didn't know you were so um I didn't know you're such a revolutionary. Where does that come from? Are you I don't know, I guess just Who's like a political figure that you respect the most in the world?
SPEAKER_02One of them might be this political figure that is no longer there, um Selassie.
SPEAKER_01Selassie? Yes. Okay um why Selassie?
SPEAKER_02Because he was able to gain the trust and love of its people and also um make that place into a more peaceful place.
SPEAKER_00Okay.
SPEAKER_02Um he used tactics of of peace. I mean yes, rebellion too, but also like kindness, uh being peaceful, not everything not is not about violence. So that's why I think he he's one of my I don't know my biggest inspiration in politics. Because I mean I hate politics or politicians.
SPEAKER_00Why do you hate politics?
SPEAKER_02I feel like nowadays everybody is the same. Uh they get ridden by greed.
SPEAKER_01Um but everything was political, right? Like there's politics and graffiti. There's politics in your house about what not to do and what to do. I think like in some form, some way politics will always exist, right? I think the issue is can you make a can the politics be fair in an environment where people live?
SPEAKER_02That makes sense. Um so yes, what I I guess what I hate is unjust politicians. Um people who get too into their head and pretty much forget about others, they don't care about other people. I don't like that.
SPEAKER_01So if I voted for you to be president, what are the first three things you would change? Hold on, let me just say that. If I voted for you to be president of the United States, what's the first thing you would change? The one thing. And if I voted for you to be president of Colombia, what's the one thing, first thing you would change there?
SPEAKER_02Those are both tough. Because there's so many problems with both.
SPEAKER_01So which one which one will be the most important?
SPEAKER_02Um in Colombia. I mean I would say something related with like I guess drug trafficking and some type of either peace agreement or something with Las Park, uh the guerrilla group. Like working to either make peace with dad somehow. And in the US I don't know exactly how we go about it, but make it so people would be more united. I feel like the US is too divided and also like the cities or well not major big cities, but a lot of places in the US are not um like community-oriented. They are mostly like um uh like made for people to be isolated. So I would change that, like make more like cities closer to each other, like more big cities within the small towns and stuff like that. So people would actually talk to each other and get to know each other instead of being divided.
SPEAKER_01I think it's a it's a class issue, yeah. And a caste, a caste system. Like the that's a whole nother conversation. We're not gonna do that now. We're gonna wrap this interview up so he can eat. Um is there anything you wanna say? I guess is there anything you want the world to know about you that they don't know about you? No, nothing. There's any shout outs you want to give out to nobody out there in the world?
SPEAKER_02Shout out to everybody.
SPEAKER_00Everybody?
SPEAKER_02No, I don't know specific, because then I'll forget some people and then I don't know.
SPEAKER_01That's fair, that's fair. I gotta use that one. Shout out to everybody that I know.
SPEAKER_00Shout out to everybody who I know and knows me and everything, love you guys.
SPEAKER_01Okay Um one last question. Um I always want to know, there's always one as in the women's bathroom, oh there are a lot of scribes in there on the mirrors.
SPEAKER_02There's there's some, there's some, not as much as the guys' bathroom.
SPEAKER_01Okay, and in the unisex bathroom you see all the scribes, but yeah, when it's women only, do you see is it a lot or just a little?
SPEAKER_02A little, but sometimes you also see like infiltrated uh guys on a script or two.
SPEAKER_01Okay, alright, alright. Um that's it, we live. We're gonna let you guys go. And that was an interview with Pansy. Um what city you rep in right now? None? Not really, no city, what you're just rep in the Colombia. You're just gonna rep Colombia? Yeah, Pansy from Colombia. That's you'll see her around. We're gonna let her eat though right now. Alright.