THE JOKER

En marge de la société

 At the margins of society

One more mosaic example in Paris of the French street artist Invader's pixelated style inspired

by the late 1970's Japanese video game, Space Invaders. 

It may be well-executed as far as this genre goes, but coming across this image of The Joker 

on a shady side-street has a creepy effect.

I don't know who is keeping count of these, but there are reports that there are 

more than one thousand glued to walls in the capital city alone.  

For fans it has become a game to seek them out and "flash them" with their phones on dedicated

applications. In fact, according to an article in Le Figaro culture section, the artist himself developed 

such an app to "spot and flash" his works.

©2026 P. B. Lecron

FOR THE LOVE OF VERSAILLES

Unattractive utility boxes in Versailles are more often than not turned into decorative

pieces, often with historical references, thanks to the masterful works of staff and students

of l'École Supérior d'Art Mural et Décoratif de Versailles.

 

UNIDENTIFIED FREE ARTIST

Every now and then I notice that the anonymous French mosaic tile artist known as Invader has affixed another one of his works on a Versailles wall. This recent one is on a building next to the parking area of the Gare Rive Droite, a train station in the city center. Though installing his quasi-permanent works on public and private property without permission may be punishable by law, there seems to be an attitude of tolerance, indeed de l'indulgence bon enfant toward this urban artist's mosaics. Originally inspired by the pixelation of the old Space Invaders arcade game, Invader has been at it for some 30 years and, according to an article posted by Christies, has works in 80 cities including Paris, New York, London, and Tokyo.

Vocabulary

bon enfant:  good natured, easy-going

©2025 P. B. Lecron

WITH AND WITHOUT

It's amazing that this street-art mosaic of a decapitated Louis XVI is still up on this building in the Notre Dame quarter of Versailles. From all accounts, the pixel-like work is that of the urban artist known world-wide as Invader. In the summer of 2017 he stealthily and surreptitiously installed a series of mosaics high up on buildings in Versailles. His pseudonym makes reference to the popular video game, Space Invaders. Some of the mosaics in the royal city have been removed, some have remained for the decision of the mosaics' fate on private buildings has been left to property owners. For more examples of what was once up in Versailles, click here.

©2018 P. B. Lecron



Une nouveauté!
For the family that reads together:  a new children's story written by my daughter and illustrated by myself, Le lapin et la lune, is now available on Amazon. Its translation from the French, The Rabbit and the Moon, is likewise on sale.

WHAT'S UP?

On en est où?

Urban street art on ventilation ducts of the Centre Pompidou "pop" up  a building adjacent to the glass and steel art center. Through the decades the art center's pioneering 1970's architecture has become something that we simply have had to put up with, then have grown accustomed to.

Expressions
Qu'est-ce qui se passe? Que se passe-t-il? Quoi de neuf? On en est où? :  What's up?

©2015 P.B. Lecron