INVADER (Paris, 1969). "Rubik shot red Marilyn",... Lot 100

INVADER (Paris, 1969). "Rubik shot red Marilyn", 2023. Diasec on glicée printed on aluminium. Copy 618/774. Publisher: Heni Edition. Signed and justified on the back. Publisher's label on the back. Measurements. 100 x 100 cm (frame). Since 2004, Invader has created a series of works, generally for indoor exhibition, using exclusively Rubik's cubes (a style the artist calls "Rubikcubism"). Using a computer program, the artist calculates the precise distribution of the six colours in a Rubik's cube necessary to achieve the desired image. The works are organised into three series: "Bad Men", comprising portraits of famous villains such as Osama bin Laden, Jaws and Al Capone; "Masterpieces", which reproduces famous paintings by artists such as Delacroix, Warhol, Seurat and Lichtenstein; and "Low Fidelity", based on iconic album art. Invader is an urban artist of French origin whose identity is unknown. He rose to fame for his ceramic tile mosaics inspired by the pixel art of 8-bit video games from the 1970s and 1980s, many of which depict the titular aliens from the arcade games Space Invaders, Pac-Man and Super Mario Bros. To accompany his citywide installations, or "Invasions", Invader publishes books and maps as guides to the locations of his mosaics. Invader also makes mosaics using QR codes and stacks of Rubik's cubes (the latter usually installed indoors). Invader sees himself as a "hacker" of public space who spreads a mosaic "virus". He believes that museums and galleries are not accessible to everyone, so he installs his work on the street. The sites for his mosaics are often chosen for their visibility, local interest and symbolism. No two pieces are alike although many of his works feature his signature aliens.