Design

Space Invader Signs Populate Paris

Mosaic-tile creations are part sign, part urban art.

Published

13 years ago

September 21, 2011

Jeff Russ Signs of the Times September 2011 Issue

It seems like everybody does it eventually: Romans, Huns, Cossacks, Germans, even the bubonic plague took a shot. But now the city of Paris is being sacked by a new type of invader: Space Invaders. Mosaic-tile representations of characters from 8-bit computer games are popping up all over the City of Light, and the trend is spreading quickly.

These photos reveal the street art of the French urban artist aptly named Invader, who has been installing his creations around the world since 1998. The mosaic tiles are weather-resistant and difficult to damage, so they tend to last longer than other forms of underground art.

The next time you visit Paris, London, Geneva, Rome, Berlin, Barcelona, Vienna, Amsterdam, Bilbao, Los Angeles, New York City, San Diego, Bangkok, Tokyo, Katmandu, and even Mombasa, keep your eyes peeled for these colorful, otherworldly characters.

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