Street Art and the Space Invaders

Do you want 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 all possible information about his iconic works, "Space Invaders," and we are going to share them with you.

Space Invaders is a series of street art made in mosaic. They are often found in the streets of Paris, but can also be spotted in other cities around the world. This article will tell you about:

  • The mystery surrounding the birth of this movement in street art.
  • The "Space Invader" is a unique and highly artistic creation.
  • The history of mosaics and support for the "Space Invader."
  • Finally, the various "Space Invaders" works that have become cult classics.

At the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of the world created by the Space Invader. You will be able to understand the messages he intends to convey through his works. Let’s get started:

I) Space Invader, la naissance du Street Art

 

Street art is a very important part of our daily lives today. You can see stencils everywhere you go. Street art began as graffiti in the 1960s in Philadelphia. To win the love of his heart, someone would write their name in various streets of the city. It was an impressive practice that others in the city later adopted. This practice spread to other states, such as New York, and then worldwide.

Street art evolved towards the end of the 1990s. Today, we are witnessing a reformation of the concept. It was not only a form of art but also a tool for activism and fighting injustice. We also see 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 meanings. Invader now has more space invaders around the world. Invader has become a leading figure in modern street art, alongside Banksy. His identity is still unknown.

II) Space Invader, a unique artistic concept

II) Space Invader, un concept artistique unique

Space Invader is a original and unique art that has experienced such success. This series of works looks like no other street art. It isn't graffiti or a stencil, but a mosaic. That's right! Invader's works are made of small tiles that he transforms into characters. These tiles are then turned into little creatures, which can include a computer virus, a dinosaur, and aliens. He would later become interested in 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 Invaders", which was released in 1978 on a dartboard target. It was created by Taito in Japan and involves shooting small aliens with a laser cannon. The cannon must be moved horizontally across the screen. Points are earned each time a player shoots an alien. Since its release, this game has been a huge success. Invader was drawn to the connotations it evokes. 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 managed to infiltrate space through placing his works in space stations in recent years, he also wants to be that invader. His works can be found almost everywhere: in cemeteries, in the streets, etc., to show that the invader is everywhere, even if we don't always see him.

 

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

III) The mosaic: support for the space invaders

II) Space Invader, un concept artistique unique

We now know that Invader's works are made with a mosaic support. What is this inspiration? Invader answers this question in an interview. He states that computers became democratized in the 1990s. This led him to take an interest in theaesthetic and design of pixelated images. He tried to create paintings to show these effects, but he failed. Then he had an idea. He created the mosaic. He used ceramic tiles and stuck them together to create a mural. He then displayed it in the streets of Paris.

 

Unlike other artists who prefer to paint only in black and white, Invader allows himself to use a lot to use a lot of colors. They are not afraid to use different colored tiles, including red, yellow, green and even black and white. They are diverse in terms of the size and format of the paintings.

IV) Space Invader, becoming a cult

Invader owns many works, but there are some that stand out and have a great international reputation. These include: PA_689 and Space OS, Space One and Pirate Skull.

1) PA_689

This work was exhibited for the first time in Paris in 2006. It was displayed along the exterior of Place de Belleville. It represents the image of several characters from the famous game "Space Invader" ". It consists of ceramic tiles that were mosaicked. 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 at Place de Belleville near the subway, about 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 special work. It is a representation of a computer image, which became very widespread in the 1990s. On the table are the main components of the device, namely the central unit and the screen. On the screen is displayed as a representation of "Space Invaders." This representation can be seen by walking along Rue de Reuilly in Paris.

 

3) The Space One

Invader also created the Space-One. This one, like other Space Invaders, is the drawing of a character 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 aboard the balloon to capture the moment. The Space One was built with 14 tiles, each measuring 28 cm long and 24 cm wide.

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

4) The pirate skull

The pirate skull owes its name to the image of a pirate's skull. It was made with embedded ceramic tiles. It is widely used to evoke piracy or hacking in the IT world. It can also be seen on many screen prints, especially on T-shirts and displays.

 

The Space Invaders, in short, are Dalinian figurines which are inspired by the video game of the same name. However, they have hidden messages and connotations. This article will give you information about the life of the invader and some of his impressive works. You will soon be able to decipher the story of his art and better appreciate it.

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The Montableaudeco.com team

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