Invader

EXHIBIT

WORLD INVASIONS

"I'm Invader (that's my alias). I always appear masked in public, so no one knows my face.  Some people call me a polluter, others say I'm an artist. I prefer to think of myself as an invader !" - Invader

Invader’s work illustrates the overwhelming effect technology has had on contemporary culture while also critiquing it, using the ancient and traditional technique of mosaics to simulate digital pixels. Referencing the 1978 Atari video game, the artist began placing mosaics featuring “Space Invaders” on the streets of Paris in the late 1990s. Joined by “Pac Man” ghosts and other popular 8-bit characters, the works soon became a familiar sight to encounter in any urban environment. Invader’s usage of tile to create street art, rather than paint or stencil, is not only a unique choice of medium—it also emphasizes his commentary of how digital information networks have affected and transformed our society.

Sightings of the work have spread over the last ten years on a global scale as the artist continues invading public spaces across five continents. Currently, Invader’s work can be found on the streets of over fourty cities, worldwide. Each work is linked to the others as part of a series. After completion, each piece is meticulously photographed, numbered and cataloged before being placed on the street. The artist sees his “invasions” as a reality game, giving himself between ten and fifty points for each creature based on its size, composition and location. He has published maps and guides for those wanting to tour the Invasions of Paris, London, and Los Angeles. Recently, Invader’s work has evolved, incorporating Rubik’s Cubes in addition to tiles, creating 3D sculptures which echo imagery found in his two-dimensional work. Invader is known to be the originator of this technique, a movement referred to as: Rubikcubism.

Source: The Jonathan Levine Gallery