Invader takes over Le Musée en Herbe in Paris for an exhibition entitled Hello, My Game Is… with over 100 new works on show.
It’s the first exhibition of Invader in Paris since 2011. The title refers to the name stickers, popular in the graffiti scene, with twist on the name emphasizing the playfulness of the work as Hello, My Game Is… seeks to engage with the inner children within us all.
Invader explains – ‘I have myself often drawn inspiration from the world of childhood. Besides, who other than an adult with a child’s soul could devote his life to invading the world with video game characters? Also, this exhibition is very close to my heart because children represent the future. Education and dialogue with children are the key to a good future for humanity and tomorrow’s world.’
Since the creation of the Flash Invader app many years ago, which involves hunting down his street pieces across the world, the level of engagement with his work has been deepened with 13,000 registered users to date.
Entering the museum, the first room reference both video games such as Pac-Man and Q*bert and characters from children’s animation including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Miyazaki’s Ponyo that have inspired his work. People from all ages are invited to try and play the infamous arcade games.
A large-scale interactive map of the world is showing the 67 cities which have been invaded over the course of the last 20 years as well as lifesize ‘alias’ mosaics that have been installed across the world, including the one in the ISS station .
The Rubicubism room is a nod to the 80’s Rubik’s Cubes game. Rubikcubism pieces on display include Disney characters as well as Peter Pan, who previously appeared in PA_1085. This particular work is made from 1,320 Rubik’s Cubes making it his largest such piece to date.
A magnet wall allows children, both young and old, to create and remake their own 8-bit inspired creations
The last room presents works on paper as well as a series of masks used during Invader’s streets interventions and a glimpse of the artist’s studio.
For all Flash Invader fans eager to top up their score, the most recent mosaic has been placed inside the museum.
A 40-page book containing games and stickers published by Casterman also accompany the exhibition.
Hello my game is… will run from Monday to Sunday (10am to 7pm; 9pm on Thursdays) from 26th January to 3rd September at 23 rue de l’Arbre-Sec, 75001 Paris.
Text and photo credit: Butterfly Art News
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