How Artist Mas Paz is Saving Nature Through His Artwork
Mas Paz is a Colombian artist and muralist using his voice to spread awareness about the importance of protecting nature.
With the state of nature under threat, from climate change, deforestation, and pollution, just to name a few- taking care of the earth is more important than ever. Since the beginning of his career, Federico, also known as Mas Paz, has been using his art to spread this exact message and to remind others of what is at stake in the fight for saving Mother Nature.
“Flashy cars and having lots of money, that has become the norm nowadays, you know. What TikTok dance can I do?” says Federico.
“What’s more important dancing on TikTok, or making sure we’re restoring a special lake to make sure it doesn’t get polluted because that water will feed three whole states?”
Adopted at an early age from Bogota, Colombia, Federico grew up in Arlington, Virginia, with an American family; where, despite the change of cultures, he was always able to feel connected to his roots.
“I’ve always been connected with my roots through my adopted mother. She used to work in Colombia for the Peace Corps in 1964, in a small little pueblo called Quibdo,” Federico said.
“I grew up, but I was always connected with my roots, and when I got old enough I would go back and visit her friends in Colombia, and all Colombians, pretty much so. I’ve always been very connected with my culture.”
This connection to his heritage only grew when he discovered his interest in art. Through art, Federico was able to find his voice and passion for indigeneity and nature.
“It was like a type of medicine for me to heal, you know, one thing I did realize with my artwork, was it kind of became a voice for me,” said Federico.
“Because growing up in my house, I didn’t really feel like I had a voice. I felt very kind of like just stuck in the corner, like people didn’t really talk to me, and I didn’t really matter that much, and so art was kinda like my voice.”
Federico fondly remembered his interest in art, was always there as a child, he would frequently find himself drawing on anything he could get his hands on. “I would always draw. I remember when I was a little kid, my mother gave me a pack of markers, and I remember using them and I remember just how they had the texture and how they were really watery, and they bled through the paperwork. I just started drawing. I was always drawing”
As he grew up, his art evolved as well. He went from drawing battles to comics to graffiti and hip-hop characters. “It was like the underground, you know? We didn’t have the internet back then and if you needed to figure something out, you had to do it on your own, or maybe if you’re lucky, you (would) find out about hip-hop and b-boy events,” Federico said. “I got into the graffiti culture kinda like that, and I started just doing graffiti with my friends. Nothing crazy. But, I saw it just like painting some walls here and there. I didn’t think I was an artist”
By high school, Federico’s artistry expanded to street photography. Through photography, he was able to capture the little moments in life, whether it be with his family, friends, nature, or the characters he would meet on the streets. Federico even won a scholastic award for his photography, validating his place in the world as an artist.
After graduating from George Mason University with a degree in 3D animation, Federico went to New York City, where he learned firsthand the hustle and bustle of the city and further developed his graffiti artistry. “I graduated and I got a job in New York doing 3D Modeling. It was an internship, but I just couldn’t sit at the computer,” said Federico. “I was doing a lot of cool stuff, but I couldn’t sit at the computer and work all day. I was like: I gotta get out and I eventually quit and I started selling t-shirts on the street.”
During this time, Federico also took a number of different jobs, from selling clothes and art in Times Square, working as an EMT, creating art installations for the MOMA, to designing t-shirts for Nike- he did it all. Until he left the city for Brazil, it was there where Federico truly learned what it meant to be an artist and what it meant to be Mas Paz.
“Once I moved out of New York and I went to Brazil, it was like a canvas because you can paint anywhere in Brazil. Nobody cares, you know?” said Federico. “This opened up this whole world of creating your work in the street, being free to just do whatever you want and forget anybody.”
After his time in Brazil, Federico continued his South American tour by backpacking through Bolivia, Argentina, and Peru. “Being back in my land, you know, being back in South America, where my ancestors came from. Walking that land and being connected with it is like, ‘Damn!’ These are my people, you know? These are my people! This is where I come from!” said Federico.
“It was very humbling. It was just like a breath of fresh air.”
With his message of conserving nature and using art as your voice in the world, Federico has traveled all over the world to spread this message and help others find their voice. He even traveled with Words Beats & Life to Pakistan in 2016, and since then has been working with them to continue to spread the message that art in all forms, whether it be music, dance, or graffiti has the power to change lives.
“The power of art is almost when you look at something, you feel something. When you look at a piece, you feel it. You know, it hits you like, wow!” said Federico.
“And it motivates you to do something, it gives you inspiration, maybe you feel more connected with your Columbian culture. Maybe you feel inspired to go volunteer in a park. It’s gonna make you feel different. For me, my art is a way to share a message and inspire people.”
