Artist Spotlight 013 - Tornado
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There’s something fitting and almost inevitable about this being the 13th edition.
Thirteen has always carried a duality. For some, it’s unlucky. For others, it’s a number of transformation. You know, it’s all about stepping outside the expected path and into something a little more…strange and honest.
That tension feels like the perfect entry point for an artist like Tornado.
Her work lives in that in between space of:
mundane but distorted
nostalgic but unfamiliar
playful but quietly overwhelming.
It’s the kind of art that doesn’t just ask to be seen, but to be sat with. The longer you look, the more it reveals, and the less certain you become of what you thought you saw in the first place. And maybe that’s the thread that connects this edition to her work.
Let’s hop into this lucky number 13th edition with one of my favorites Tornado.
SI:
What is your name, and do you go by an artist handle?
TORNADO:
Hi! My name is Tornado Rodriguez, but you can find me on X as @tornado_ilus and on Farcaster as @tornado-
SVS:
When did you first get into art? You know what was the catalyst or moment that pushed you to take it seriously?
TORNADO:
My interest in art began at an early age when I was in a bookstore looking for comics and was dazzled by a book about Picasso. From that day on, I became more interested in going to museums and learning about artists, although I think my interest in comics already showed that I was attracted to drawing. I remember that at the back of an Argentine comic I used to read, there were advertisements, and one was about learning to draw by mail. I always fantasized about sending a letter and learning to draw.
SVS:
That is pretty similar to me, I got into comics, and started drawing simple comic characters and that led to me submitting pieces to the local newspaper for competitions. So what was the catalyst or moment that pushed you to take it seriously?
TORNADO:
When I finished high school, I wanted to study graphic design, but a friend told me about art college and I decided to enroll. By that point, I already had experience drawing, so studying art seemed like the logical choice.
SVS:
Sounds like that was a really good choice! What themes or ideas tend to show up most in your work?
TORNADO:
My work is usually very mundane and routine, based on my own experiences but always framed through a whimsical lens.
SVS:
How would you define your art style in your own words?
TORNADO:
If I had to sum it up in words, I think they would be: surreal, psychedelic and nostalgic.
SVS:
Yeah I really agree with this. Especially the psychedelic part. Your work leaves me in a state, I can’t even begin to explain it. But there is so much happening in a good way, you can spend hours just looking at it, and still find something new, interesting or exciting about each piece of your art. How did you discover NFTs, and what made you decide to participate in the space?
TORNADO:
I got into NFTs during the boom back in 2021. At that time, many Argentine artists joined, and we all shared information with each other. Hic et nunc was launched on Tezos and allowed people to start understanding how a blockchain works with little money, while at the same time offering an underground environment. I remember not understanding much of what was going on for many months, but once I understood how to navigate it, how to meet people, how to plan drops, and how to understand blockchains, everything became much simpler.
SVS:
For those of you who don’t know, the Hic Et Nunc aka HIC (translates to here and now) was a platform built on tezos, and was really popular back in the early days. The creators shut down the platform with no warning and caused a lot of controversy about NFTs etc, but objkt and Teia stepped in and helped to bring back the art.
What platform(s) do you primarily use to sell your work, and why?
TORNADO:
Objkt on Tezos is definitely a place I'm familiar with, I feel right at home. It's a shame that the currency is so cheap, but apart from that, the atmosphere is very human and allows you to make art in a slightly more relaxed way.
SVS:
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as an artist so far?
TORNADO:
It's okay to make mistakes, and if something doesn't convince you, it's better to let it go.
SVS:
What advice would you give to artists who are curious about NFTs but hesitant to jump in?
TORNADO:
Enjoy it, experiment, but also know that it will remain there forever and that there is a responsibility that comes with it. If you're going to drop work just because of FOMO, this world may consume you.
SVS:
That is deep right there, and probably the most important part. If you just do it for the FOMO or to be part of a trend the world may consume you! Thanks for sharing that.
Just for fun! What kind of music do you listen to? (pick one genre) And is it the same genre while you are creating?
TORNADO:
I listen to all kinds of music, especially pop and rock, but I can tell you my all-time favorite artist, the one I've loved the most since I was little. I'm a huge Madonna fan. I think she's spectacular. Her discography is extensive and great, and I want to take this opportunity to say that my favorite albums are Ray of Light and Music. And usually when I work, I listen to pop because it's a genre that allows many genres.
There’s a line Tornado shares that lingers long after everything else:
“If you're going to drop work just because of FOMO, this world may consume you.”
It’s simple, but it cuts through the noise. Because if HEN, and everything that came after it, from Teia to Objkt taught this space anything, it’s that permanence is real. The blockchain remembers. The work stays. And intention matters.
Tornado’s work doesn’t feel rushed or reactionary. It feels lived in. Observed. Filtered through memory, routine, and emotion, then reassembled into something surreal and expansive. Something that resists quick consumption. This is the exact opposite of what FOMO culture demands.
And maybe that’s the real significance of this being the 13th edition. Not bad luck. Not superstition.
But a quiet reminder that the most meaningful work often exists just outside the comfortable, predictable path. In the strange corners. In the layered moments. In the here and now. Exactly where Tornado has been all along.
You can stay up to date with Tornado’s art here.
And stay connected with him on Farcaster and X.
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If you’re an artist, even an onchain or digital artist and would like to be featured in a future Artist Spotlight; I’d love to hear from you. Reach out to me and let’s share your story. Much Love!
Serenus
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