Since the 1980s, with the initiation of Project Space Invaders, numerous mosaics in the style of pixelated video games have emerged in over 80 cities worldwide. Behind all of this is the anonymous French street artist, Invader, inspired by the arcade game, Space Invaders. But you have ever wondered, how is a mosaic installed?

Planning And Placement

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Deciding where to place the mosaics is perhaps one of the most essential parts of the invasion, or even, the most important decision. It is a subjective decision that requires the artist to visit areas and identify the neuralgic points in the cities he visits. Therefore, the scouting process is long.

Every location is thoroughly thought over, rather than being placed on a whim. It encourages people to hunt for treasure when they’re walking down the streets with FlashInvaders; instead of looking down at their phones. Most mosaics are placed in locations that force you to look away from your devices. It may be looking up at a two-story house, or looking over the bridge handle.

Click on the above image on Instagram to play the video

If you have followed Invader's social media, you will notice he had not updated his work from July to August. It is probably because it takes much more time than what you think to install his mosaics. In addition, he has been planning and making his book, the Conversation with Hans Ulrich Obrist.

Operation

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Most of the time, Invader works at night, when no one will interfere with him. It also helps conceal his identity and prevent him from being exposed. The material used for the mosaics is often ceramic tiles with adhering substances that are durable and effective. However, on occasions where he has to be his persona in broad daylight, such as in articles and media access, he will wear a mask.

The mosaics are usually prepared in advance before being glued. He considers several factors, such as the time and place of the invasion, or the height of the wall, to decide when and where to install his mosaic. The major contingent is to be quick and organized. You can’t be on a ladder near the residence for an entire hour, can you?

For these uncertainties, Invader has developed several techniques that allow him to adapt to different situations. For example, Invader uses cement or extremely effective glue to make mosaics stick to walls in no time.

The Strategy

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The principle is to be slow and steady. If he rushes through it, the mosaics may bear a risk of low quality and fragility. Little by little, Invader explores internationally populated urban areas and cautiously installs his mosaics one at a time. The objective here is to spread his influence in the art world and beyond.

I try to evolve and reinvent myself at all time while leading a precise and serious aesthetic invasion project

-Invader

Another key strategy is to work at night when nobody can interfere with the installation process. He openly admits that his work exists in the gray area between art and vandalism, risking legality issues. In the Invasion of Marseille, he primarily works under the cover of the night sky.

Plan and place

operation

The Strategy