Banksy’s buddies Space Invade and Pac-Man Paris

If you’ve seen the mock-doc Exit Through the Gift Shop, then you know about the street artists Banksy, Shepard Fairey and the narrator, film maker, turned artist, Thierry Guetta, aka Mr Brainwash.

Allegedly, Thierry’s brother (at the end of this doc, you’re not sure what to believe) who is known as Invader, is the creator of the little mosaics of Space Invaders and Pac Man that have invaded cities around the world.

This one was the closest to our apartment. Nice message!

It took a day or so, and then we started to see them around Paris. One was right around the corner from our apartment. We saw a bunch in the 5th and the 6th, but even in the outer arrondisements. Spotting them became a game as we walked around, which actually isn’t as easy as it sounds, given all the other things to look at.

A little spray invader.

Pac Man in the high-rent part of town.

In general, I’m not a huge fan of graffiti, especially just tags, but this was kind of cool. Maybe, I like the contained nature of the mosaics, the colours and the playful expressions.

A subtle touch of colour at the base of a building. Here's looking at you!

A tropical touch in the 5th.

For now, Paris seems to have accepted them. I don’t know that they’re in any hurry to take them down.

Back alley invader T-mouth.

Faux mosaic stencil, good for 10 points.