Gm Tormius, could you give a quick intro about yourself?

GM! Thank you so much for this interview, it's an honor. My name is Adrià Tormo, born and raised by the Mediterranean Sea in Valencia. I'm an artist whose work revolves mainly around abstraction and geometry, infused with a surreal touch and my own absurdist twist. My style is constantly evolving and experimenting. I studied graphic design and, after finishing my degree, I fully dedicated myself to my artistic project. In February 2021 I discovered web3, which has since become my home both as an artist and as a collector.

Take us back to the beginning. What first sparked your interest in art?

I've always been a kid with creative impulses, I guess like most kids, but for me it never really went away. My creative path could have taken many different directions. My mom even tried to sign me up for drawing classes, but I was way too shy to go for it, so I didn't actually take classes or get any proper creative training until I started my formal studies in graphic design. At that point, discovering artists like Kandinsky or learning about the Bauhaus and movements like De Stijl made me realize there was a deep connection between graphic design and art, and I also saw that the journey wasn't just a straight road, it could branch out into so many different paths. That's when Tormius started to take shape, at first just as a shadowy concept, until I finally had the courage to put myself out there and show the world what's inside my imagination.

Composition VII by Wassily Kandinsky, 1913. Galerie Tretyakov, Moscow

Your style is instantly recognizable. Was that a conscious effort, or did your style evolve over time to get where you are now?

I'd say it's a bit of both. I spent a long time thinking about what I wanted to express, I experimented with lots of techniques and different ways of creating until I found the one that felt truest to me. From there, my style has kept evolving, exploring new approaches while also developing the older ones. It's a never-ending journey and my style will always have something new to discover or refine.

Prophet Raven, 2022

Do you work digitally from start to finish?

Yes. Not long ago, thanks to my great experience at the Rio Art Residency in Rio de Janeiro, I took the leap into working physically, which definitely opened up new possibilities for me, but my main body of work is still digital. My iPad feels like an extension of me!

What software do you use? Any tools you can't live without, or could you happily create within any software?

I use Procreate and Affinity Designer, those are the two tools I honestly couldn't live without. Maybe I could adapt if I had to switch and use something else, but it would be really tough.

Trapped Liberty, 2023

Can you remember the first piece you created that you were really proud of?

I think it would have to be my first NFT, Spirit Guide. Back in February 2021, I had just discovered web3 and had started connecting with people, and I felt this urgency to mint my first NFT. I wanted to create something worthy of the moment, but because of the hype, the fast pace of the space, and the collective excitement, I had to pick one of my existing works. Spirit Guide was the one I felt proud of presenting as my first NFT at that time, and that's how it happened.

Spirit Guide, 2021

Shapets is a hugely successful collection on Shape, can you tell us a bit about that project?

Shapets is actually two collections, and I'm really proud of them. They were my first contribution to Shape, and the reception was amazing thanks to the support of the Shape team. It all started as a fun side project while I was figuring out how I could contribute something original and playful to the Shape ecosystem. I'm really happy with how it turned out, and with the base of collectors who picked up a Shapet. And for the future, I'm already planning new things together with the Shape team.

Shapets, 2025

We can't wait to see what's next! In general, how have you found the web3 experience? The good and the not so good…

For me, it's been everything. As an artist who came from nothing, I've been able to build my brand, carve out a small place in the community, meet people I admire (and had admired even before), and now call them friends. It's where Tormius was born, where it grew, and where it will always belong. On the flip side, I'd say the biggest challenges are trust and security. I'm sure I've missed out on good opportunities just because I was too cautious with a random DM or email, although that happens outside of web3 aswell.

Also, the frantic pace of the timeline, with things constantly happening (and most of the funniest and biggest ones taking place while I'm asleep), often makes me feel pressure and a strong fear of missing out. For my personality, that usually triggers me to shut down mentally from socials and retreat into creating new art that allows me to express myself in another ways. Because creating new pieces that I will show in the future makes me feel present without having to be actively participating.

Where do you see NFTs, web3, and digital art in ten years' time?

I can't see anything other than gradual mass adoption. There are still a lot of misconceptions and a lot of distrust, but this is both the present and the future of art and collectibles, there's no Plan B. People want to own the things they use, and in the digital world, this is the only way to do it. I think about Pokémon cards and the value some of them hold, now imagine if Pokémon officially released all their characters as NFTs, each one unique, and you could actually be the sole owner of Mewtwo or Charizard. The value of that would be priceless.

How was your experience minting on Shape?

10 out of 10. Five stars. They say there are three things you need to do in life: Plant a tree, write a book, and mint on Shape. Praise the ⚫!

Excellent advice, thanks Tormius!