A multidisciplinary artist born and raised in Mexico City, based in New York since 2018, Majo San’s work is a collection of projects ranging from murals, paintings, installations and tattoos. Community, nature and the exploration of our minds and how we relate with our world and reality are the main things that motivate her.
Her pieces are contemplations about her spiritual practice rooted in Tibetan Buddhism Philosophy, her experience with nature, and the relationship between what we perceive and what is actually there. She believes everything is connected in continuous change and aims to remind and be reminded of this connection. Textures and organic elements play a protagonist role in her visual code, having always found nature as her biggest inspiration.
She invites the viewer to not only see nature, but to feel it, and in that way, go deeper and strengthen our connection to the universe.
We featured Majo as our centerfold artist in our fall edition of The Other Magazine, and I asked her some questions about her process.
Majo San’s mural—in a New York City apartment—that we featured as our centerfold.
What first drew you to muralism specifically? Was there a moment when you realized large-scale work was your medium?
Well my first thought of “I love to paint walls” was right after I painted my room one day, I was about 23. It was some kind of giraffe with abstract plants, and even though the surface was a particularly challenging one, I loved the whole process. Shortly after that, I was already in the streets looking to start.
How does your cultural heritage show up in your art, consciously or unconsciously?
I was raised in a way that made me very conscious of my connection to earth and the whole universe through nature so I guess that shows in the way I communicate in my work, using natural elements as my main visual code. Another aspect is how emotionally driven my themes can be. I mention a lot how I think “Mexicans are ruled by their hearts.”
What does your process look like from initial idea to finished wall? Do you sketch digitally, traditionally, or jump straight to the wall?
For my mural pieces, I usually start with a concept I’d like to represent, either inspired by something I experienced or something I want to meditate about. I work on a digital sketch most times and play there with the main elements and ideas I have. I do a lot of the color selection at this point as well. Then, after a long visit to home depot, one of my favorite places lol, I start on the wall. My sketches are a main reference but most of the work is done directly on the wall, where all the details and textures come alive, I usually modify things at this point too.
What role does music, intuition, or ritual play in your painting process?
I am a visual artist, but I get highly inspired and fueled by music, and sounds. I paint almost all the time with music and depending on what I am listening to, it modifies my vibe or pace of work. I also use this as a tool depending on what I want. As I mentioned, I like to do most work on the wall, where I play in the moment with the paint and the space to create textures, colors and details as I go and [do what] feels right.
Color is such a huge part of your work — how do you choose your palettes?
I have many ways but one of them is trying to express a vibe through color. I even name my playlists like that: “green mood,” “golden mood,” etc. I think I’ve had different color moments reflected on my pieces through the years and they have reflected a lot how I have felt in those moments.
How do you navigate being an immigrant artist in New York’s creative ecosystem?
At first, it was a bit difficult to find creative inspiration and to understand and get familiar with the New York art world. But as I started to merge with the scene and having my own experiences of the city, I was able to add that to my voice. Exposing and expanding your mind to new things is one of the best ways to nurture the creative mind. And it happens both ways, the contribution that I offer by being an immigrant is a different and particular way of expressing that reflects my culture here.
What emotion or experience do you hope people walk away with after seeing your work?
I would like people to create their own stories and interpretations of my work. I want to invite them not only to see nature, but to feel it and to meditate between what they perceive and what it is actually there.
Do you think muralism can be a form of activism or healing? How so?
Totally, and in many ways, I could have a long conversation about this but can mainly point out… Public art represents a form that is meant to be accessible, rather than hidden inside galleries, museums, and private collections and by this, street art and murals are a strong tool to express and communicate in a daily context to the public. They crack open cemented opinions and reflect the pulse and spirit of a community, they not only inform but create a sense of belonging.
What kinds of collaborations or themes are you excited to explore in the next few years?
I’d like to explore more painting canvas, it is a different process than murals, much more personal and intimate.
If you weren’t a painter/muralist, what would you be doing creatively?
I would love to do music. I always say my higher self would be a crazy musician, in a future life.
You can follow Majo at @majo_san and even commission a mural of your very own.
