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Jonathan LeVine Gallery, Booth #D07
SCOPE-Basel, June 15 — June 19, 2011
In booth #D07 of SCOPE-Basel 2011, Jonathan LeVine Gallery is proud to present new works by Paris-based artist Invader. For what will be it’s fifth year in Basel, SCOPE will run from June 15—19, 2011 with daily hours from 10am—7pm. Coinciding with ART BASEL 42, the SCOPE-Basel Pavilion will be held in a nearby venue called Kaserne, located at: Klybeckstrasse 1b in Basel, Switzerland.
For SCOPE-Basel, Invader has created a new series of works featuring his signature pixel-based aesthetic, in mediums such as mosaic tile and rubik’s cubes, which clearly translate the concept of pixilation (the division of visual information in digital format). The artist will incorporate a series of alias works (single replicas of original street placements) into a site-specific installation, representing a selection of mosaics he has placed in various locations, worldwide.
Known for using mosaic tiles to re-create popular characters from vintage 8-bit video games (such as Space Invaders and Pac-Man) on the streets of cities around the world, the internationally celebrated artist’s invasions are carefully cataloged after placement in context to their surrounding environment. Since the project has grown on a global-scale, each piece also carries considerable significance from a larger perspective—populating what is now a worldwide installation that stretches across the planet. Invader’s mosaics can be found on the streets of over 40 cities, on all five (inhabitable) continents. Like the game, his mission is literally an invasion of (public) space.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Invader was born in 1969 in Paris, France, the city where he is currently based. His work illustrates the overwhelming effect technology has had on contemporary culture using the ancient and traditional technique of mosaics to simulate digital pixels. Referencing the 1978 Atari video game, the artist began placing mosaic Space Invaders on the streets of Paris in the late 1990s. Joined by Pac Man ghosts and other popular 8-bit characters, the works soon became a familiar sight to encounter in any urban environment. Invader’s use of tile to create street art is not only a unique choice of medium, it also emphasizes his commentary of how digital information networks have transformed society. Sightings of the work have spread over the last ten years on a global scale as the artist continues invading public spaces across five continents. Currently, Invader’s work can be found on the streets of over forty cities, worldwide. Recently, Invader was included in the 2011 Art in the Streets exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles, and featured in Exit Through the Gift Shop, the 2010 Oscar-nominated documentary film directed by world-renowned British street artist Banksy.
For further information on SCOPE, please visit the fair’s website:
http://scope-art.com/Index.php/basel
