Imagine shuffling through a crowded town, your eyes skimming the streets and walls. Suddenly, you encounter a pixelated alien staring back at you. This whimsical encounter is Invader’s signature. As an anonymous street artist, he transforms urban spaces into playful, nostalgic galleries. The Space Invader series invites us to engage with art in a familiar, nostalgic way. Let’s dive into Invader’s career, explore the nature of the Space Invader series, and discover what makes these tiny mosaics so special.
Who Was Invader?
The name behind the creative Invader is a mysterious French artist who is famous for his incredibly unique street art. We don’t know his real name, but thanks to his colorful mosaics, he’s become famous all over the world. The first tile artworks that Invader created (sometimes referred to as ‘artworks on walls’) appeared in Paris in the late 1990s, inspired by the pixelated characters from the arcade game Space Invaders. His work is about making public spaces joyful and surprising and is all about encouraging people to look up and find something unexpected in their everyday surroundings.
FUN FACT: Invader once created a “space invasion” on the International Space Station! In 2015, he managed to get one of his mosaic pieces, a mini tile of an iconic Space Invader alien, onboard the ISS through astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.
His Career
As he began to spread his pictures across cities globally, Invader’s career started to take off. His playful mosaics show up all over the place from Paris to New York, peeking from walls, bridges, and sidewalks. In his street art, which he blends with his love for video games, he often challenges the notion of art being the purview of galleries alone. Invader has taken up his place in the urban art scene and has helped cities become vibrant livened up by fun and nostalgia. His career is not just about the creation of art; it’s about sparking conversations and opening people’s eyes to views on the world.
What Is Happening in the Space Invader Series?
| Artist | Invader |
| Date Created | 1998-Present |
| Medium | Tile mosaics |
| Genre | Street Art |
| Period | Contemporary |
| Dimensions | Various |
| Series / Versions | Space Invader series, variations |
| Where is it Housed? | Worldwide (public spaces) |
The Space Invader series is much more than street art, it is a lively, urban game. Space Invaders characters were reimagined as mosaics by Invader and hidden in “secret” locations. It feels like a little treasure hunt at each installation. It’s full of thousands of versions of the game’s pixelated aliens, each a bit different in color and shape, some with local touches that reflect the nature of the city they live in.
In addition, Invader has documented his projects extensively, creating maps for each city that he invades and refer to as ’invasion maps.’ Every mosaic has its location coordinates, along with the ability to point for bonus points if you can see one in person. Invader’s series is more than art, it is an adventure, it’s a stroll in the city and a friendly quest to see art hide in all the naves and crannies of urban life.
What’s So Special About the Space Invader Series?
The Space Invader series isn’t just confined to gallery walls and private collections. It happens in places we least expect, sometimes in plain view from a common corner on an office, sometimes in the midst of a busy alley. It is this street-to-gallery approach that creates an experience of serendipity and wonder by turning art into something.
Invader’s series brings two worlds together: tile mosaics and early gaming – the analog charm and the digital nostalgia. It transports you back to the time of arcades when Space Invaders was king. The “I could’ve made this” charm comes to each mosaic in the series, until Invader had the audacity and whimsy to do so.
Interesting Facts About the Space Invader Series
Invader Scores: Each artwork in the Space Invader series has its own “points,” based on the piece’s difficulty to locate. It’s almost like a city-wide game of hide-and-seek.
Traveling Art: Invader’s work can be found in over 30 countries and 77 cities. Think of it as an urban treasure hunt with art as your prize.
Self-Aware Humor: Invader loves a good joke, once describing his work as “urban acupuncture,” where his installations are the “needles” stimulating the “flesh” of the city.
The Invader App: Through the FlashInvaders app, users can snap photos of Invader’s mosaics to earn points and see how they stack up against other fans. Now, that’s parfait for art lovers!
Artwork Spotlight: Invaded Cube
Invaded Cube by Invader is available on Singulart. This artwork shimmers with its pixelated glory which is perfect for collectors and street art enthusiasts alike.
Are you looking for a piece of artwork from Invader?
Singulart has limited edition prints of Invader. If you are looking for a piece of Invader‘s artwork for sale, simply click on the artwork or the button below to discover more!
FAQs
1. When did Invader start his art?
In 1998, Invader created his debut installation in Paris. This character appeared in the Atari game in 1978 and shortly afterward ‘occupied’ 31 cities in France, 65 cities overall, and 33 countries.
2. How does Invader make his mosaics?
Weather-resistant tiles, which stand in for the pixels used for visuals in early video and computer games, are utilized to create the mosaics. Scouting, recording, and mapping places are all part of the installation procedure, which usually takes a week or more.
Conclusion
Invader’s Space Invader series invites you to see the world with fresh eyes. His approach breaks the traditional boundaries of art by removing it from gallery walls and planting it in the urban landscape. Next time you’re in a city where Invader has left his mark, take a closer look. You might find a small, tile-based alien staring back at you, daring you to play along.
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