“Oh, did you see a Space Invader? » If this has escaped you yet, in two days, Bayonne, Anglet and Biarritz were the invasion grounds of Invader, one of the best-known street artists in the world and who, like Banksy, works in complete anonymity. Côte des Basques, Villa Belza, Plaza Berri, the cathedral district in Bayonne, a street corner opposite the Basque Museum… Invader did not shy away from his pleasure with 25 mosaics created between November 8 and 9.
It is improbable not to know his alien, a reflection of the aesthetics of the first video games, with his face reproducing ultra-pixelated digital characters. Since 1999, the street artist has spread across the world. To date, the man whose face we have never seen, but who we know was born in 1969 and his name is Franck Slama, has 4,219 references in 193 cities around the world, on five continents . Paris, New York and Los Angeles are hit by its invasions. He was in Seoul in October before the BAB invasion, on this long weekend.
Villa Belza, a symbol of Biarritz, is now flanked by another symbol, at one of its entrances.
Gaëlle Tournier
Gaëlle Tournier
At the end of the Grande Plage in Biarritz, a Space Invader in summer colors, on the low wall next to the Hôtel du Palais.
Gaëlle Tournier
In the aesthetic of art inspired by video games, which Invader draws on, we recognize a nod to the stork, a recurring character in the Yoshi and Mario universe.
Gaëlle Tournier
True or false?
How can we verify that this wave of mosaics is indeed signed by Invader? Its site space-invaders.com lists its actions, as does the Flash Invaders app which claims 412,306 users, hunters of these iconic aliens. Biarritz, Anglet and Bayonne appear in the list of the street art star under its usual codification, in this case BAB followed by a number.
If the signature is beyond doubt, the artist has not missed nods to the territory, proof of upstream scouting work. In Bayonne, Place Pasteur, Aviron Bayonnais caught his attention, in the form of a flag with the initials of the rugby club, obviously flanked by the emblematic alien. At the Plaza Berri in Biarritz, place an ikurriña, or this raised fist, with a political accent, on the outskirts of Rue d'Espagne in Bayonne.
In this act of invasion, which targets discreet street corners as well as emblematic sites, such as the Côte des Basques with an imposing mosaic of approximately 1.50 by 2 meters, the essence of Invader's work cannot be left behind. don't forget: this public space hacker intervenes without authorization.
In this non-framework catalog, the municipalities concerned or owners of private buildings, such as the Belza villa, will be responsible for considering these artistic piracy as a gift or an intrusion, in other words: preserve or destroy the aliens.
The “wow” effect in Bayonne
For Bayonne, the choice seems obvious. The city has been promoting its attachment to street art for years with the Points de vue festival, the 8th of whiche edition took place last month. Welcoming in its streets, an international big name which, on the art market, displays an impressive price – the mosaics of Invader are estimated between 15,000 to 900,000 euros – is a godsend. Mayor Jean-René Etchegaray dismisses the hypothesis of a destruction of a “I am delighted to see that an artist of this reputation can do this”. The councilor recalls the investment made so that urban art, via Points of View, develops throughout the Basque Country, “knowing,” he says, “that I did not imagine that the population was so attached to this museum in open sky.
Alban Morlot, artistic director of the event, does not hide his enthusiasm. “I dare say: finally! It has been more than twenty years since he returned to the South-West. There was Pau in 2000 and Contis (40) in 2010, nothing since. So seeing it in the Basque Country is a source of pride, we appear as an urban art destination,” he rejoices. For him, the message is clear: the interventions of “this internationally renowned artist validate the work that we have been doing for years with Points of view”.
On the question of whether or not to preserve the aliens, for Alban Morlot, there is not a shadow of a doubt: “Not only must we do it, but we must also protect them. Space Invaders is the subject of concealment and sale on the black market. To avoid being stolen, he changed his technique, notably using stronger glues. Since then, it has been impossible to cut the mosaics without breaking them.”
Municipal councilor Cyrille Laiguillon, involved in emerging practices, adds: “We keep it, it’s something we must defend, it’s heritage. » Same pride for this early fan: “In a short time, Bayonne has become a stronghold of street art. Seeing an international artist who comes to us and coexists with the local scene is quite a recognition! »
