10 Questions with Pamela Scherson

Pamela Scherson (1994, Mexico City), AKA La Changa Pachanga, is a tattoo artist and street artist based in Mexico City. Growing up in the city, she drew inspiration from pop culture and the visual details of her surroundings. Along with tattooing, La Changa mainly works on paintings and in street art pieces like murals and paste-ups. Her work is characterized by a trashy, irreverent aesthetic and seeks to capture the spirit of childhood and the imaginary world. Through her art, she brings to life whimsical and imaginary creatures that reside within the depths of our unconscious minds.

www.lachangapachanga.com | @lachanga.pachanga

ARTIST STATEMENT

In her artistic practice, La Changa is consistently drawn to capturing aspects of pop culture through the lens of her inner child's ignorant perspective. She prioritizes spontaneity and embraces intentional mistakes, aiming to shed light on the unconventional beauty found within ignorance.

To bring her artistic vision to life, she works primarily on large canvases, employing a diverse range of materials such as chalk, oil pastels, and colored pencils. Through the deliberate manipulation of textures, she strives to evoke a sense of childhood innocence and wonder in her pieces. This exploration of textures and materials allows her to uncover the unique and hidden beauty from a naive perspective. Intentionally painting with imperfect lines and utilizing every inch of the canvas, she incorporates beautiful-ugly details that fill what may traditionally be perceived as "negative" space. This approach, combined with her playful experimentation with textures, further enhances the evocative power of her work, transporting viewers into a realm of enchantment and curiosity.

INTERVIEW

First of all, introduce yourself to our readers. What is your artistic background, and how did you start experimenting with art?

I am Pamela Scherson. In the art world, people know me as La Changa Pachanga. While originally from Mexico City, I currently live in Israel. The visual realm has been a constant presence in my life. Over the years, I've explored a range of artistic mediums, starting from photography and collage and then extending to tattooing and street art. Today, my focus is primarily on painting and tattooing, all with the intention of breathing life into creatures that reside in our unconsciousness. I aim to bring forth both light and darkness through a naive/ignorant style.

Why are you an artist, and when did you first become one?

I was never the kind of kid with the most beautiful handwriting or the one who made the nicest drawings for school presentations. Simply, I always had my notebooks packed with doodles and sketches, creating messy characters and enjoying all creative tasks.
"Artist" is a big word. When I used to hear this word, big names came to mind. Growing up in Mexico, I constructed this idea about artists, usually linked to big, towering names – serious references. Names like Toledo, Carrington, Tamayo, Orozco, Khalo – they'd pop into my head whenever I thought about artists.
But the first time that this word knocked on my door was at a party after a girl approached me and we started having a simple conversation in which I asked her what she does for a living, and she told me she is an artist. When she explained to me what she does, I thought, "I do the same things." I paint, I draw, and I experiment with new techniques – all of this as a way of responding to my impulse of creating.
So that was the first time in which I really had this existential question: ¿What is being an artist? ¿Could I name myself an artist?, or ¿Does that only come when others name my creations art?
During the COVID lockdown back in 2020, I built my first substantial canvas – it measured 200 by 170 centimeters. That piece, when it was done, was the moment when, internally, I called myself an artist for the first time.

You come from tattoos and street art. How would you define yourself as an artist today?

The concept of street art captivated me – the informality and its ephemeral quality, which has a big contrast with tattooing. Tattoos are an art form that imprints itself for a whole life. They become a part of the body, accompanying the carrier throughout their entire journey. I suppose painting serves as a middle ground bridging the worlds of street art and tattooing.
For me, the motivation to embrace ignorance is undeniable. It signifies approaching the canvas without the burden of prior knowledge, allowing the inner memories and perceptions to flow freely. These worlds captivate my artistic spirit. I define myself as an artist driven by a thirst for exploration, seeking to engage with diverse expressions of ignorance, and wanting an anti-knowledge as a profound gift. 

In your work, you mix pop images, trashy aesthetics, and playful characters. Can you tell us about the process of creating your work? How do you go from the first idea to the final outcome?

I like my coffee with a sketchbook and black ink. Every morning, I dedicate myself to sketching ideas that come to mind. It could be new creatures, intriguing figures, or sometimes even wild stuff that danced around in my dreams the night before.
That's where my process starts. Generally, the main characters that appear in my paintings start from this early morning brainstorming session. These creatures sometimes ask me to add gadgets and clothing, different hairstyles, or other friends to join them.
At times, these very creations evolve into big paintings or tattoo designs or end up as vibrant paste-ups on random street walls. 

What themes do you pursue with your work?

I enjoy portraying the pop culture I've absorbed, not limiting myself to only one subject. I delve into a range of things like aliens, TV characters, music, food, you name it. I realized that now that I am away from Mexico, many of my references come from the small details I miss.
The themes that I explore in my work represent the potential of the subconscious, the exploration of "beautiful" concepts. While we often label ignorance as negative, I view it as an opportunity. My artistic pursuit revolves around expressing what I absorb from the world.
Lately, I've been seeking to disrupt the tranquility inherent in the American traditional tattoo culture. I usually take the masculine, animalistic "totems" that represent values like strength, courage, and patriotism through characters like the classic panther, the fearless eagle, the sailor, etc. Later, I decompose them, creating new versions of them, transforming them into something new, representing a new mix of values.

You predominantly work with painting, especially on large canvases. What's the essential element in your art?

I have been working on a "visual signature." It's like this special mark I've cultivated over time. It's about filling up the "negative space," the area that encircles the main object on the canvas, with doodles and petite sketches. I like this because it forces the viewers to get close to the canvas and explore the painting. It's an invitation to discover the intricate details, breathing life into the artwork in a completely different way than you'd perceive from afar. Large canvases are great to provoke this effect. This exercise is similar to the Buddhist exercise of seeing ourselves up close and then from afar, giving importance to the small and the big, all at once – the eternal dance of the opposites.

You have a peculiar style, with bold colors and striking images. How did you come up with your style?

Not being afraid of mixing, I've learned from my personal experiences that the only thing that emerges when you blend things that "aren't supposed" to interact is beauty. It's the captivating experience of tension and its outcomes.
There's a quote from Nick Cave in which he explains how he writes his lyrics. This quote works as a perfect visual idea to encapsulate how I've been developing my style. He said: 

"It's like letting a small child in the same room as, I don't know, a Mongolian psychopath or something, and just sitting back and seeing what happens. Then you send in a clown on a tricycle, and again you wait, and you watch. And if that doesn't do it, you shoot the clown." - February 21, 2023

Is there anything else you would like to experiment with? Is there any new medium or technique you would like to incorporate into your work?

I want to dive deeper into ceramics. This year, I had the opportunity to participate in an art residency in Paris and Barcelona. During this period, I reconnected with ceramics, a medium I hadn't worked with in years. The experience was great. I'm excited to continue exploring ceramics. I am also starting to work on smaller pieces on canvas. Let's see how it goes. 

On a different level, what do you think about the art community? Do you feel you have found your place in there?

I've mainly tapped into the art community and connected with fellow artists through Instagram. It's a fantastic space for fostering exchanges and building connections. These platforms help a lot cause I consider myself an introvert, so I find it easier to interact without overthinking. 
On the physical front, my experience with art residency was eye-opening. Witnessing how other artists operate, engaging in insightful conversations, and sharing knowledge proved incredibly enriching. In the end, I came to a realization – every creative process holds its own validity, and each artist possesses their unique truth. In the world of creativity, the line between right and wrong is a fine one. 
Absolutely, the fact that I moved from Mexico to Israel pushed me to explore new horizons and appreciate my roots as an artist, again, the exercise of seeing yourself from afar. 

Finally, are there any projects you are looking forward to for this year?

As the year draws to a close, I'm in the process of wrapping up a few remaining projects. You can keep track of my upcoming ventures on my social media platforms. I'm eagerly anticipating a handful of exhibitions before the year comes to an end. Additionally, I'm enthusiastic about continuing my journey in the world of tattooing.

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.