The mosaics

The mosaics of Invader, in Clermont-Ferrand

The mosaics that dot the walls of Clermont-Ferrand are the work of Invader, one of the most famous street artists in the world. The Clermont-Ferrand audio-guided tour stops here to evoke these little coloured characters inspired by the video game Space Invaders, scattered in the city as in more than one hundred and seventy cities across the world, within the framework of what the artist calls "the Invasion".

History

For those with an eye, Clermont-Ferrand is dotted with little mosaics installed nearly everywhere on the walls. Many are the work of the most famous street artist of the city, known under the pseudonym of Invader. His characters draw their inspiration from the Space Invaders, these aliens of the video game of the same name released in 1978 on the arcade machines, where you had to destroy with missiles waves of two-dimensional invaders. Since 1996, the artist thus realises mosaics of little coloured aliens, that he sticks on the façades. He qualifies his approach as a "planetary invasion": these characters are today present in more than one hundred and seventy cities across the world, for a total of more than four thousand two hundred works. His aim is to create a bridge between the video game and reality, to make the mosaic and the pixel meet. There is even an application, Flash Invaders, that allows you to go hunting these aliens. But Invader is not the only one to have invested the walls of the city: by advancing in the tour, the attentive stroller will discover many other works of street art.

What to see

Here you look up in search of the little mosaics of Invader, one of the most famous street artists in the world; inspired by the video game Space Invaders of 1978, these coloured aliens are stuck on the walls since 1996 within the framework of his "planetary invasion", present in more than one hundred and seventy cities. The mosaics make Clermont-Ferrand a playground for lovers of street art. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The mosaics of Invader are scattered on the façades of the centre of Clermont-Ferrand, to be discovered by looking up, in free access in the public space. An application, Flash Invaders, allows you to go in search of them. You discover them during a walk in the centre.

Who made the mosaics of Clermont-Ferrand?

Many are the work of Invader, one of the most famous street artists in the world, who since 1996 sticks on the walls mosaics of little coloured aliens inspired by the video game Space Invaders of 1978; he qualifies his approach as a "planetary invasion", present in more than one hundred and seventy cities for more than four thousand two hundred works.

Where to see the mosaics in Clermont-Ferrand?

On the façades of the centre of Clermont-Ferrand, by looking up during the walk, in France.