The Hotstepper's Blog

I do not know if I have become a spotter, but I always find it fun to look out for the little mosaics of Space Invader. I have spotted them in Paris, Barcelona and now also in Rotterdam. The photos above and down I took at the Koninginnebrug.  (I learned from research on internet that  Rotterdam has had an invasion in 2001)

The hype began in 1988 when a French artist named Invader glued the first Space Invaders to the walls of buildings in Paris. After a few years of traveling and pasting his work is to be seen in more than 35 cities. Eventually others followed his example and dozens of other cities were  also covered with a colorful blend of retro-game characters.

The biggest enemy of the Space Invader mosaic is of course the cleaning department of the town that often feels the same about this retro-art as it does about graffiti. The difference is that graffiti is often intended to attract as much attention as possible , whereas this mosaic art is often only noticed after one has passed it several times. Gemeentewerken Rotterdam does not find  Space Invaders  a nuisance and they will therefore not be removed.

Through Invader’s site http://www.space-invaders.com/  I learned that here are a lot more of Space Invader mosaics in Rotterdam.

Soon I will do a Space Invaders bike ride. Perhaps more people should do that. It is a nice alternative way to get to know the city better!