Meet Viola
Meet Viola MissCode, a digital artist with a unique voice and a vision deeply rooted in both tradition and innovation. Viola’s journey into digital art and Bitcoin ordinals has been shaped by a life steeped in creativity, from her early inspirations to her bold embrace of cutting-edge technology. "I have always been an artist," Viola shares. "Even in real life, I work in the world of live shows. My grandmother was a plastic artist, and I grew up drawing. Art has always been a part of my life, and drawing feels like a childhood dream come true." Viola’s journey into Bitcoin ordinals began in 2020, when she discovered Bitcoin’s revolutionary nature. By March 2023, she encountered the Ordinals protocol and immediately recognized its potential. "I started studying and creating," she recalls, inscribing her first collection in September 2023. Over a year, she inscribed approximately 150 unique pieces, ranging from 50kb to 395kb each, using special satoshis. The experience, she notes, has been "fluid and simple."
A Poetic Vision
Viola describes her artistic approach as both "original and poetic," blending themes of freedom, often tied to Bitcoin’s message, with an eye for beauty and subtlety. "Poetry can be found everywhere—it’s in the eye of the beholder," she explains. Her work weaves the visual with deeper messages, using the canvas of the Ordinals protocol to add meaning through file size, type, and the unique satoshi inscribed. "When I create, I listen to my inspiration and the urgency to express it," Viola says. This authenticity ensures her art remains true to her vision.
Bitcoin Ordinals
For Viola, choosing Bitcoin ordinals as her medium was deliberate. "On other blockchains, NFTs are not on-chain," she emphasizes. "Bitcoin is the only truly decentralized currency with intrinsic value. Its attributes, like scarcity and the trustless system, transfer this value to the Ordinals protocol, giving inscriptions objective parameters like ordinal numbers, file type, and satributes." This foundation drew Viola to Bitcoin ordinals. "With such a powerful and decentralized network, you ensure the durability and value of your work over time." She views Ordinals as unparalleled compared to other blockchain platforms, allowing her art to embody permanence and freedom.
The Backstory
Every piece Viola creates holds personal significance, yet several stand out in her career. Highlights from her Bit-Rioters genesis collection include: "Dev or Die": The first-ever animated GIF on a Pizza Pali. "Fuck the System with Poetry": An animated GIF on a Nakamoto Pali. "Pali Demon": An animated GIF inscribed on the 666 Pali. "I am Perfect": Likely the first animated GIF on the Silkroad Pali. Recent works, such as Medusa (the largest file on Vintage Paliblock) and The Ordinals Dragon (the largest file on 78 Pali), showcase her exploration of file size and unique attributes. "My inspiration stems from studying the medium itself and its values," she explains, "and spreading knowledge through an artistic language based on poetry."
Traditional to Digital
While Viola’s passion for art began with traditional methods, her journey to digital art was transformative. "I’ve always worked in show business as an artist, author, and director, but my traditional art experience was personal and passion-driven," she explains. Transitioning to a graphics tablet and blockchain, Viola embraced digital tools to align her work with contemporary technology. Her creative process merges artificial intelligence for initial models with manual redrawing, resulting in compositions that are both modern and handcrafted.
Influences and Inspirations
Viola’s work is heavily influenced by street art and comics. From street art, she draws a rebellious spirit and a sense of freedom mirrored in Bitcoin ordinals. "Ordinals are like graffiti," she says. "Uncensorable and free, they populate Bitcoin nodes like graffiti on walls." From comics, Viola adopts a love of fantasy, minimal color palettes, and alternative storytelling. "To navigate between inspiration and originality, I believe in putting something of yourself into your work. Study, choose, and recreate in your own way—that’s my formula."
Lessons and Growth
Through her artistic journey, Viola has learned that "life is the art of meeting," whether in the real world or through virtual identities in Web3. She finds authenticity in the mask-like anonymity of the digital space, often seeing deeper sincerity than in traditional interactions. Art, for Viola, is also a mirror for growth. "When we create, we lay ourselves bare," she says. "The process of seeking inspiration and executing a vision is always one of learning and growth."
Advice for Others
Viola’s aspirations remain grounded in her belief in art’s power to benefit humanity. Her next project, My Lovely Monsters, continues her exploration of 1/1 inscriptions, blending inspiration and innovation. Her advice for emerging digital artists? "Study deeply, put yourself into your work, and find your unique language. Always keep evolving—it’s the only way to find your place."
The Art of Freedom
Viola MissCode’s journey is a testament to the fusion of traditional artistry and digital innovation. Her works on Bitcoin ordinals capture the essence of freedom, permanence, and poetry, making her a trailblazer in this revolutionary medium. For Viola, art is more than creation—it’s a lifelong pursuit of expression, growth, and connection.
