Gauntlet Gallery — Invader Print Index
Explosion
Summary
Invader's "Explosion" is a 2015 silkscreen produced with Hong Kong Contemporary Art (HOCA), printed on archival paper at 55 x 55 cm in a hand-signed, numbered edition of 50. The square format and pixel-burst imagery translate the artist's signature 8-bit mosaic vocabulary into a print, rendering the digital idea of a detonation as tidy blocks of colour.
Why It Matters
The edition of 50 marks "Explosion" as one of Invader's tighter print runs. It also anchors his relationship with HOCA and the wider Hong Kong invasion campaign of the mid-2010s. For collectors mapping his print catalogue, it represents the moment the artist's Asian-market editions moved beyond the tile kits into fully signed screenprints.
Collector Perspective
Collectors weigh three things here: the low run of 50, the hand-signature and numbering, and the clean square presentation that suits framing at scale. As a HOCA-published piece, it sits within a defined institutional lineage rather than a self-published kit, which appeals to buyers who prize documented publisher provenance. Condition on the archival sheet and edges is the primary variable.
Historical Context
By 2015 Invader had spent over a decade installing ceramic-tile mosaics in cities worldwide under his anonymous, video-game-derived identity. HOCA's Hong Kong programming brought his work to Asian audiences, and "Explosion" belongs to that outreach. The imagery nods to the arcade explosions native to the 1978 Space Invaders game that gave the artist his name.
FAQ
How large is the edition?
"Explosion" was released in a limited edition of 50, each sheet hand-signed and numbered by Invader.
Who published this print?
It was published in 2015 by HOCA, Hong Kong Contemporary Art, as part of Invader's Asian-market editions.
What is the medium and size?
A silkscreen on archival paper measuring 55 x 55 cm in a square format.
Is the print signed?
Yes, each impression is hand-signed and numbered by the artist.
About the Artist
Invader (born 1969, France) is a pseudonymous French urban artist known for installing mosaic works inspired by 1970s-80s arcade video games, most famously the aliens from Space Invaders. Since the late 1990s he has "invaded" cities worldwide, cementing tile mosaics onto walls and mapping each installation as part of a global game. His studio output extends the pixel aesthetic into prints, "Rubikcubism" works made from Rubik's Cubes, aluminum pieces, and alias-signed editions. He remains anonymous, appearing publicly only masked.
Collecting Invader at Gauntlet Gallery
What Invader works can I collect?
Beyond street mosaics, Invader releases signed, numbered editions — screenprints, giclées, aluminum and Rubikcubism works — plus his "Invasion Kits." Signed and numbered studio editions are the collectible core. Gauntlet Gallery focuses on complete, well-preserved impressions with documentation.
How is an Invader piece authenticated?
We sell Invader works with documented provenance and the edition's signature and numbering. Each piece is photographed exactly as it ships, including signature and edition details, so you can verify before buying.
What drives value?
Medium (unique Rubikcubism and aluminum works over open prints), edition size, iconic imagery, condition, and provenance all shape price. Hand-made and low-numbered pieces command the strongest premiums.