Invasion of Potosi: Project 4000
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The elusive French street artist Invader had reached an incredible milestone of 4000 invasions after over two decades. Since 1998, Invader has been infiltrating urban landscapes worldwide with his pixelated mosaic artworks, which can be found in all sorts of places, including public buildings and street corners. Reaching this kind of goal requires great passion and dedication. This time, we explore the significance and impact of such achievement.
The 3999th
In June 2021, Invader installed his 3999th mosaic on the side of a wall in Paris. It is a brick mosaic that depicts one of his original characters inspired by the Space Invaders.
This is a big one for him. After over two decades of work, visiting 79 cities, he finally reached an impressive 3999 mosaics installed worldwide. The dedication and patience needed to achieve this feat is nothing short of incredible. The project that started in Paris blossomed into this global sensation. Deciding to place this mosaic in Paris, where almost half of his work is located, pays tribute to where the whole project began.
Since then, he started to think about his next move.
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The 4000th
After serious planning and research, Invader chose Potosi, Bolivia, to place his 4000th mosaic.
It was picked as the destination for the artist's 4,000th installation because firstly, it suits the title of Invader’s mission, as it was a city located at 4000m altitude. Secondly, the city has never been invaded before. Most importantly, it is a city open to street art culture.
Believe it or not, this was only his second Invasion of South America and his seventh invasion of the Americas. POTI_01, the first mosaic of Potosi’s invasion, and Invader’s 4000th mosaic, depicts one of Invader’s original characters with a green border and red eyes over the number 4000 in a pixelated style.
POTI_01
the Potosi invasion
Besides from the 4000th, Invader created an additional 52 mosaics in Potosi.
the Silver Mining industry
Cerro Rico de Potosi is the world's largest silver deposit and has been mined since the sixteenth century, producing up to 60,000 tonnes of silver by 1996. It is estimated that there is still much silver remaining in the mines.
Many of Invader’s mosaics in this invasion pay tribute to this industry, showing respect to the importance of the industry to this city.
El Tío
El Tío is believed by many locals to be the Lord of the Underworld and is a significant part of Potosi’s culture. There are various statues of this devil-like spirit in the mines of Cerro Rico.
Invader understood this local culture and brought a twist to his mosaics by incorporating the Creeper mob in Minecraft into his mosaic to represent El Tío.
POTI_06
In addition, the artist added one mosaic with a smaller size inside a citizens’ home, which has a statue of El Tío inside.
animal species
Invader also depicts animals in his mosaics. He has included an eagle, llama, and stray dog mosaics in the iconic cartoon, Scooby Doo.
The bolivia Flag
As Potosi is a city in Bolivia, Invader implemented a lot of color schemes related to the flag.
The Rainbow Flag
There isn’t much proof of the exact relationship between this color palette and the location, but it probably is to show support for the lgbtq community.
The Sun and Moon
The sun and moon have long been part of the culture in Potosi, which is deeply rooted in the traditions and beliefs of the indigenous Andean people.
Conclusion
Invader’s achievement of 4000 invasions is a remarkable milestone in the world of street art. His unique blend of nostalgia, creativity, and guerrilla art tactics has left an indelible mark on cities around the globe. As he continues his artistic journey, Invader’s work reminds us of the transformative power of art and the endless possibilities that arise when we view our urban environments through a playful, imaginative lens.
The Invasion Map of Potosi is currently not available
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We do not own any copyrights to the photos used
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All rights reserved ~ We do not own any copyrights to the photos used ~
