Rowan Chernin

Space Invader

Space Invader
By Rowan Chernin

French street artist Space Invader makes our cities look better and wants us to get in on the act...

Rubikcubism: n Avant garde artistic movement that appeared in the XXI Century using Rubik's cubes as a medium to create art. The French artist known by the pseudonym Invader is at the origin of this movement

Before the end of the last millennium a world wide assault began on our cities. The French artist known under the pseudonym of Invader, began spreading his Space Invader mosaics. From in the corner of your eye; on a bridge, the edge of a step or next to a street sign they would appear. Always the bold use of colours matching those of the classic Rubik’s Cube. Some pieces are bigger than an album cover, others the size and narrow width of a envelope. The one thing they all share is their style based on the Space Invader (designed by Toshiro Nishikado’s back in 1978) the alien that appeared in the first electronic arcade game to reach global recognition.

Dissemination lies art the heart of this current street pop art invasion. Invader's philosophy is that he’s “leaving a gift to the city". There is no secret to the materials used. No magic, no tricks, no special ingredient or process. Just shop bought mosaics and a city space where the Space Invaders can be permanently fixed hard with industrial cement and adhesives. For followers, there is the option to buy Space Invader mosaic kits online to further the global spread of this iconic alien marque.

For the artist himself this is not a random invasion. Each piece in each country is meticulously planned, recorded and then re-created as “Aliases” that are encased in hard resin and etched with all the details of the original. Unfortunately, like any foreign invasion, the wanton destruction of the mosaics on the street is unavoidable.