Sea of Slime
Or pay 3 times Sea of Slime is a work that I particularly like in Invader’s work, because it shows a more rare aspect of its universe. Of course, the pixel art, the characters, and the references to video games are present, but the composition also gives the impression of having been drawn by hand, like a preparatory work done before transferring certain forms to the street.
Technical information
Year: 2014
Technique: screen printing in five colors on paper
Dimensions of the work: 35 × 50 cm
Dimensions with framing: 40 × 53.5 cm
Edition: 50 copies, accompanied by 4 artist’s proofs
Signature: signed, dated and numbered in pencil by the artist
Publisher: Gallery Target, Tokyo
Frame: black wooden frame
State: nine
Certificate: certificate issued by the Galerie Montorgueil
Provenance: Private collection
Sea of Slime was created in 2014 as part of the exhibition Home Sweet Home, held at the Gallery Target in Tokyo. This edition retains the visual codes characteristic of Invader, but its treatment distinguishes it from its most geometric and immediately recognizable compositions.
What I love about this work is precisely its almost drawn-like aspect. It gives the impression of the artist’s research, as if he was preparing forms, characters, or future works that would be placed in the street. The line appears more spontaneous, more free, and gives access to something very close to the creative process.
Invader created some pieces in this spirit. They are all particularly beautiful, but also much rarer. They allow us to discover his work in a different way, beyond the perfectly constructed image of the mosaic. The artist’s hand can be seen here, as well as his research and the impression of being in front of a preparatory stage before moving onto the mural.
The edition is limited to only 50 copies, plus 4 artist proofs. That’s extremely few, especially for a work by Invader from that period. This low edition also explains why Sea of Slime rarely appears on the market and why it holds such a special place among its editions.
The format is also very interesting. It allows you to enjoy the full richness of the composition without being imposing, while the black wooden frame emphasizes the contrasts and leaves all the space to the shapes and colors.
For me, Sea of Slime is a unique work in the production of Invader. It retains everything that makes it its identity, but with a more intimate dimension, almost as if we were discovering a page from its sketchbook. It is precisely its preparatory nature, its drawn aspect, its rarity and its particularly confidential edition that I like so much about this piece.
