Street Art and the Space Invaders

Would you like to learn more about the "Space Invaders" street art movement? Are you curious to discover the secrets behind these extraordinary works of art?

We couldn’t help but be fascinated by the famous mosaic artist Invader. We have gathered as much information as possible about his iconic works, "Space Invaders", and we’re going to share it with you.

Space Invaders is a street art series created in mosaic. It is often found in the streets of Paris, but it can also be seen in other cities around the world. This article will cover:

The mystery surrounding the birth of this movement in street art.
The "Space Invader" as a unique and highly artistic creation.
The history of mosaic and its role in supporting the "Space Invader".
Finally, the different "Space Invaders" works that have become cult pieces.

By the end of this read, you will better understand the world created by Space Invader. You will be able to grasp the messages he aims to convey through his works. Let’s begin without further delay:

Street art is a very important part of our everyday life today. You can see stencils everywhere you go. Street art began as graffiti in the 1960s in Philadelphia. To win the love of someone’s heart, a person would write their name on various streets around the city. It was a striking practice that other residents later adopted. This practice spread to other states, such as New York, and then across the world.

Street art became more modern toward the end of the 1990s. Today, we are witnessing a reshaping of the concept. It was not only an art form, but also a tool for activism and the fight against injustice. We are also seeing new artists, such as Invader.

Invader is a French artist/mosaicist. Invader’s first work, which he called "leclaireur", was installed near the Bastille in 1996. It was a harmless alien. Two years later, he released the first "Space Invader". The public loved the first "Space Invader", which inspired him to create other forms and connotations. Invader currently has even more space invaders all over the world. Invader has become a leading figure in modern street art, alongside Banksy. His identity remains unknown.

II) Space Invader, a unique artistic concept

Space Invader is an original and unique art form that has enjoyed remarkable success. This series of works is unlike any other form of street art. It is not graffiti or stencil art, but mosaic. That’s right! Invader’s works are made from small tiles that he turns into characters. These tiles are then transformed into little creatures, which can include a computer virus, a dinosaur, and aliens. He would later turn his attention to animated films and video games. Among his greatest works are Invader Mario Bros and Invader Pan.

Invader’s inspiration comes from the famous video game "Space Invanders", which was released in 1978 on an arcade machine. It was created by Taito in Japan and consists of shooting small aliens with a laser cannon. The cannon must be moved horizontally across the screen. Points are earned each time the player shoots an alien. Since its release, this game has been a huge success. Invader was drawn to the connotations it carries. Invader tends to tell a story in which many aliens invade all of space. They risk landing on the ground if they are not killed. Invader wants the title of this invader. However, he is not an invader of space (the universe), but of public spaces. Although he has managed to infiltrate space by placing his works in space stations in recent years, he also wants to be this invader. His works can be found almost everywhere, in cemeteries, in streets, and more, to show that the invader is everywhere, even if we don’t always see him.

The invader’s motivations are not limited to expressing his talent. The "Space Invaders", as they are called, also convey messages. Most of these works have been placed in specific locations to mark a protest or challenge injustices. This is the case, for example, with the one he placed on Place de la Sorbonne in 2018 to commemorate the student protest movement that took place 50 years earlier.

III) Mosaic: support for the space invaders

II) Space Invader, a unique artistic concept

We now know that Invader’s works are made using a mosaic medium. Where does this inspiration come from? Invader answers this question in an interview. He explains that computers became more widely accessible from the 1990s onward. This encouraged him to take an interest in the aesthetics and design of pixelated images. He tried to create canvases to show these effects, but he failed. Then he had an idea. He created the mosaic. He used ceramic tiles and glued them together to create a mural. He then presented it in the streets of Paris.

Invader, unlike other artists who prefer to paint only in black and white, allows himself to use many colors. They are not afraid to use different tile colors, including red, yellow, green, and even black and white. They vary in terms of the size and format of the artworks.

IV) Space Invader, becoming a cult figure

Invader has many works, but some stand out from the rest and enjoy a strong international reputation. These include: PA_689 and Space OS, Space One, and Pirate Skull.

1) PA_689

This work was first exhibited in Paris in 2006. It was displayed along the outside of Place de Belleville. It represents the image of several characters from the famous game "Space Invader ". It is composed of ceramic tiles arranged as a mosaic. It is placed on a four-panel acrylic base.

PA_689 is Invader’s longest work. It disappeared a few months later. It was found again on Place de Belleville near the metro, measuring around twenty meters long, at the beginning of 2021. The background is green and the characters are drawn in white.

2) Space OS

Space OS is a very distinctive work. It is a representation of the computer image, which became widely democratized in the 1990s. The main components of the device can therefore be seen on the table, namely the central processing unit and the screen. On the screen is displayed a representation of "Space Invaders". This representation can be viewed while walking along Rue de Reuilly in Paris.

3) Space One

Invader also created Space-One. This one, like the other Space Invaders, is a drawing of an extra from the video game. It was launched into the stratosphere on a weather balloon. The event took place in Miami, United States, on August 20, 2012. Invader took a camera on board the balloon to capture the moment. Space One was built with 14 tiles, each measuring 28 cm long and 24 cm wide.

We see four main colors in terms of palette: red, blue, yellow, and black.

4) Pirate Skull

Pirate Skull takes its name from the image of a pirate skull. It was made with embedded ceramic tiles. It is widely used to evoke piracy or hacking in the computing world. It can also be seen on many screen prints, particularly on T-shirts and display stands.

Space Invaders, in short, are Dalí-like figures inspired by the video game of the same name. However, they carry hidden messages and connotations. This article gives you insight into the life of the invader and some of his impressive works. You will soon be able to decipher the story behind his art and appreciate it even more.

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