Anyone who has spent any time wandering around the streets of Soho and surrounds (and that is most certainly me) may have noticed these colourful little characters - space invaders made from tiles and stuck to the sides of buildings, on walls, usually high up. Parisian street artist Space Invader (see what he did there?) was named as responsible back in 2009 but to be honest I think there may be some imitators, as some more seem to
have been popping up lately. I love spotting them - if you fancy going on a space invader spotting mission yourself, there us a long standing (sticking?) version above the archway leading to Greek St next to the Pillars of Hercules pub, there is one in Rathbone Place, one near where The End nightclub used to be
and another one on the wall of the Elms Lester Painting Rooms near Denmark St. It's a bit like those stories about picking magic mushrooms - once you find one, suddenly they pop up everywhere! I have only included a selection here - maybe I should start another Google map. I hope it is Space Invader that is putting up the new ones - I love to think that he/she is carrying on their mission to invade Soho with these little critters. Long live the space invaders!
I had always wondered about these little dudes!
ReplyDeleteI was in Paris not long ago and spotted similar space invaders over there, but I'd assumed they were copying the ones over in London - thanks for setting me straight!
ReplyDeleteHe may have started doing them in Paris - I hope he is still going and the new ones are him also!
ReplyDeleteI love his work. I hope the new ones are by him. Check out his cool website: http://www.space-invaders.com/
ReplyDeleteI've been collecting these off and on for a while (Paris, Bilbao) so thanks for the tip-off. Speaking of mushrooms a few of them started appearing in odd places in East London a couple of years ago - more like ceramic than magic though !
ReplyDeleteThanks Clive - I bet some East London hipsters have tried nibbling on the ceramic mushrooms!
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