Space Invader Street Art

Are you curious to know how the "Space Invaders" street art movement came about? Do you want to know the secrets behind these unusual and impressive works of art?

It's impossible for us not to be interested in the famous artist Invader , France's most celebrated mosaic artist. Thanks to our research, we'll reveal everything we've been able to gather about his iconic "Space Invaders" works.

Space Invaders is a series of street art, created using mosaics . Meaning "space invaders," it can be found primarily in the streets of Paris, but also in many cities around the world. In this article, you will learn about:

• The mysteries surrounding the birth of this street art movement
• The unique and highly artistic nature of the "Space Invader"
• The story of the mosaic, the medium of the Space Invaders
• Finally, the various works of "Space Invaders" that have become cult classics

By the end of this reading, you will have a better understanding of Invader's world. You will then be able to grasp the messages he wishes to convey through his works. So, let's begin without further ado:

I) Space Invader, the birth of the street art movement

The street art movement is very present in our daily lives today, so much so that we can always see fragments of graffiti or stencils on every street corner. Emerging in the 1960s in Philadelphia, street art began as graffiti. An individual would write their name on various streets of the city to win the heart of the person they loved. Other residents found it impressive and subsequently did the same. This practice even spread to other states like New York, and then, throughout the world.

Towards the end of the 1990s, street art modernized. This led to a reform of the concept of street art. In addition to being an art form, it also became a means of activism and a fight against injustice. New artists, such as Invader, also emerged.

Invader is a French mosaic artist . His first work, which he nicknamed "The Scout," was installed near the Bastille in 1996. It depicted a harmless alien. Two years later, he released his first "Space Invader." This piece was very well received by the public, which encouraged him to create others, with different shapes and themes. Today, Invader hasover 2,000 Space Invaders all over the world. He has thus become a major figure in modern street art, alongside Banksy and other well-known artists. Yet, his identity remains a secret to this day.

II) Space Invader, a unique artistic concept

Space Invader's immense success stems from its unique and original art form. This series of works is unlike any other style of street art. It's not graffiti, nor stencils, but mosaics . That's right! Invader's works are made from small tiles, which he transforms into figures. He then draws tiny creatures on these murals, ranging from computer viruses and dinosaurs to extraterrestrials and aliens. Later, he even explored the worlds of animated films and video games. Among his most famous works are Invader Mario Bros. and Invader Peter Pan.

As for his source of inspiration, Invader draws his talent from the famous video game "Space Invanders," released in 1978 in arcades. Created by the Japanese company Taito, it involves destroying small aliens using a laser cannon that moves horizontally across the screen. Each time the player manages to shoot an alien, they earn points. This game has been a huge success since its release. But what interested Invader most were the connotations it evokes. The game tends to depict a story in which numerous aliens invade all of space. If they are not killed, they risk landing on Earth, and then it's all over. Invader therefore sees himself as this invader, but not of space itself (the universe), but rather of public space . Although in recent years he has also begun to invade space by managing to place his works in space stations. His works are pasted everywhere, in cemeteries, in streets, etc., which is to say that the invader is everywhere and that he exists even if we don't always see him.

As for his reasons for being, Invader didn't simply express his talent. The "Space Invaders" also serve to convey messages. In fact, most of these works were placed in specific locations to commemorate a protest or to draw attention to an injustice. This is the case, for example, with the one he placed in the Place de la Sorbonne in 2018 to celebrate the student protest movement that had occurred 50 years earlier.

III) The mosaic: a support for Space Invaders

We now know that Invader's works are created using a mosaic base. But what inspired him? Invader himself answers this question in an interview. According to him, computers became much more accessible in the 1990s. This led him to become interested in the aesthetics of pixelated images . He then began drawing canvases to represent these effects, but to no avail; he couldn't achieve the desired result. Then, an ingenious idea came to him: mosaic. To create it, he used ceramic tiles, assembling them with strong adhesive to obtain a well-crafted mural. He then presented it for the first time in the streets of Paris.

Unlike other artists who prefer to paint their works in black and white, Invader uses a wide range of colors . They readily employ various shades of tiles, from red and yellow to green, and of course, black and white. The formats and sizes of their pieces are also varied.

IV) The Space Invaders, which became a cult classic

Although Invader has thousands of works to his name, some have stood out and achieved great international renown. Among these are: PA_689, Space OS, Space One, and Pirate Skull.

1) The PA_689

This artwork first appeared in 2006 in Paris. More precisely, it was exhibited along the exterior of the Place de Belleville. It depicts several figures from the famous game "Space Invaders . " It is made with ceramic tiles arranged in a mosaic pattern and is mounted on a four-panel acrylic base.

PA_689 is Invader's longest artwork to date. Unfortunately, it disappeared just a few months after its appearance. However, at the beginning of 2021, it reappeared in Belleville Square, near the metro, stretching for about twenty meters. The artwork's colors feature white figures against a green background.

2) The Space OS

Space OS is a rather unique artwork. It reflects the image of a computer, which became widely accessible in the 1990s. All the main components of this device are depicted in the painting, namely the screen and the central processing unit. A "Space Invaders" figure is displayed on the screen . To see this representation, you can visit the Rue de Reuilly in Paris.

3) The Space One

Space-One is another artwork created by Invader. Like the other Space Invaders, this one depicts a character from the famous video game. Its unique feature is that it was affixed to a weather balloon and launched into the stratosphere. The event took place on August 20, 2012, in Miami, USA. To document the moment, Invader took a camera aboard the balloon. Space-One was created using 14 tiles , each 28 cm long and 24 cm wide.

Regarding the colours, we see 4 major shades: blue, black, yellow and red.

4) The Pirate Skul l

As its name suggests, the pirate skull represents the image of a pirate's skull. Created in 2006, it is made with ceramic tiles. It is widely used to evoke hacking and cybercrime. It can also be seen in numerous screen-printed designs, such as on T-shirts, posters, and other promotional materials.

In short, Space Invaders are representations of alien figurines inspired by the video game of the same name, but with hidden messages and connotations. By reading this article, you've learned more about these impressive works, as well as a part of Invader's life. Now, you'll have no trouble deciphering the meaning behind his art and will be able to appreciate it more fully.

To thank you for making it this far, enjoy a 15% discount on your order today with the promo code: BLOG15 .

See you soon.

The Lofty Trend Team.