Explosion
Explosion
Signed Print
Invader
Price data unavailable
AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.
There aren't enough data points on this work for a comprehensive result. Please speak to a specialist by making an enquiry.
Medium: Screenprint
Edition size: 50
Year: 2015
Size: H 55cm x W 55cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
TradingFloor
Track this artwork in realtime
Watch artwork, manage valuations, track your portfolio and return against your collection
Track auction value trend
Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Location | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2022 | Leonard Joel, Melbourne | Australia | |||
| October 2021 | Digard | France | |||
| September 2020 | Sotheby's Hong Kong | Hong Kong | |||
| August 2020 | Tate Ward Auctions | United Kingdom | |||
| October 2019 | Sotheby's Hong Kong | Hong Kong | |||
| May 2019 | Artcurial | France | |||
| June 2018 | Chiswick Auctions | United Kingdom |
Meaning & Analysis
Explosion is a signed screen print produced by the French street artist Invader in 2015. Coming in an edition size of 50, the print shows a pixelated image composed of red, orange and yellow pixels. The image refers to the explosions that occur in the popular arcade game, Space Invader, which the artist himself states is ‘the most addictive game I have ever played’.
The print is part of Invader’s Hello My Game Is collection which the artist worked on from 2007 to 2017. The name of the collection is a pun on the gaming tag: ‘Hello My Name is …’ Spanning a decade, the collection features a variety of different subjects, all of which employ an 8-bit register that is commonly associated with arcade games. In January 2017, Invader held a solo exhibition at the Musée en Herbe in Paris in which the artist showcased works from the Hello My Game Is collection.
This pixelated texture seen in Explosion has become a staple part of Invader’s visual language. The artist rose to fame in the 1990s when he took to the streets of Paris and adorned the city with Space Invaders, Pac-Man ghosts and other popular 8-bit characters, all taken from his favourite arcade games. Invader did not limit himself to the Parisian streets and his works have been sighted in 35 cities all over the world, from Los Angeles to Kathmandu.
Anonymous street artist Invader adopted his pseudonym from the 1978 arcade game, Space Invaders, and has continually paid homage to retro, 8-bit video games throughout his career. His work has evolved from the original Space Invader motif since the early 2000s, with other icons such as Pac-Man, Pink Panther and even the Rubik’s Cube becoming staples in his imagery. Invading urban landscapes with his distinctive pixelated mosaic creations, Invader transcends the boundaries of traditional street art by combining playful nostalgia with an urban twist. His unique fusion of retro aesthetics and contemporary commentary has solidified his place in the global art scene.
