Street artist 'Space Invader' believed detained in L.A. vandalism case

The Los Angeles Police Department believes one of two French nationals detained on suspicion of vandalism near MOCA's Little Tokyo gallery was the famed street artist known as "Space Invader."

The pair were detained Friday after authorities reportedly caught them with buckets of grout and pieces of tile near the historic Perez building in Little Tokyo.

Jack Richter, an LAPD senior lead officer, said authorities believe that one of those detained was Space Invader, who has left mosaic tiles of the vintage video game of the same name in cities around the world. The pair were released while the investigation continued, and Richter said officials were checking with federal immigration officials to see if they had flown back to Paris.

After their release, the trademark mosaics were discovered attached to several buildings, including the Geffen Contemporary, he added.

Officials believe the pair were in L.A. for  MOCA's "Art in the Streets," billed as the first major U.S. museum survey exhibition on graffiti and street art.

The exhibition traces the development of graffiti and street art from the 1970s "to the global movement, concentrating on key cities such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London and São Paulo, Brazil, where a unique visual language or attitude has evolved," the MOCA website says. The show has caused some debate about the line between art and vandalism.

RELATED:

Photos: MOCA's 'Art in the Streets' show

Art review: 'Art in the Streets' at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA

-- Andrew Blankstein

Photo: Tiles arranged in a space invader design affixed to a building at the corner of Fourth and Alameda streets. Credit: Katie Falkenberg / For The Times

Comments

[Hypnotist]

If they want to do their artwork(s), fine. But do it on their own property, not someone else's. A Picasso on someone else's wall is still vandalism.

[Matt]

That's awesome! Maybe it's just a well-framed photo, but the piece works well with the colors on the building; heck, even with the blue street sign. I think even the "I don't know art, but I know what I like" folks have to agree this is a far cry from simple tagging.

[chicka]

I saw someone doing something like that on a streetlight pole down in Pasadena - I thought it was amusing. Though it wasn't grout or anything, just square shaped stickies. He just smiled at us all, and we went on our day.

Won't say where though, because it's a waste of resources to go after this guy, when they could be dealing with the morons who trash LA during a Lakers Championship. Save the money for that.

[geoff m]

skid row could use some art. city should commission him!

[Tazio]

Vandal.

[Zack]

It's ridiculous they've arrested this guy... His art looks better than the wall it's on for sure... Why is that a crime? As someone else said, at least it's not just a bunch of horrible scribbles...

[Love]

I love Invader. Saw him all over Bilboa when I was in Spain. I can't believe they made it out to be regular tagging. Most of the time no one even notices when he puts something up because people are so stuck on themselves. Someone does not have a sense of humor. He improved L.A. for a moment in time.

[Dert McGert]

No one ever mentions the corporate graffiti we're constantly bombarded with from the likes of the corporate behemoths like McDonalds, Best Buy, and any countless billboards lighting up the night sky. That's just as insensitive and nasty looking as the other stuff taggers leave. And no one says anything about its affect on the community. Of course, corporations grease the politicos, so its all good as far as they're concerned.

[Bike LA]

Look at that wall. How someone can legally get away with destroying our community by maintaining a building facade that is shocking and should be a crime. Can you imagine what a street frontage like that does to ruin the viability of Little Tokyo businesses and undermine the real estate values of our city. The art is the only redeeming feature.

And, @Kong
http://www.destructoid.com/street-artists-invade-new-york-city-with-tile-mosaic-mario-art-124230.phtml

[Robert Goodin]

Our city's architecture is dominated by box stores and soul crushing strip malls and people get bent out of shape that an artist resists this morass by putting up an amusing mosaic?

Nuts to them. Go Space Invader. I love seeing your aliens in Silverlake.

[Thomas]

"Street artist," my eye. If he's using other people's stuff -- their buildings -- as canvas for his "art," he's a common thief.

Somebody needs to throw this poser a blanket party, along with anyone who makes excuses for him.

[Jon]

I like his art. It brings some life to the place as seen in the picture. Its not like the vandalism where people scribble all sorts of curse words and make pictures of inappropriate things.

[swhitS]

That's right side with the criminal once more. No regards to the taxpayer who has to clean it up at his expense.

[Borsia]

Please!! Stop calling vandals artists. They are criminals not artists.
If they have such a burning desire to paint they can start with a scrub brush and a 5 mile stretch of roadway to clean.

[TGIF]

OMG! I love it! They should thank him!
I going LA to see ! Anyone know where they are?

[Mister Chris]

There are essentially two types of people: those that perpetuate our problems and those fight the good fight despite the odds. These scumbags demonstrate such a level of immaturity and disregard or inability to appreciate real human endeavors that I feel they deserve our total and complete contempt. They are worthless. If it were up to me---unfortunately, it's not---I'd jail these idiots for a very long time.

[yomama]

Cool tag indeed. Very original. Go space invader, mob it up, homie!

[JCINHB]

2% of "Street" Art is art.... the other 98% is scribble & junk.

[Tim]

What about the 2 thugs from the Dodger Stadium parking lot?

[Mcgibby]

No, the poin is this: If he/she/it doesn't own the building, they have no right tagging, painting, etc.... Pretty simple, really. But, again, this is L.A. where every rule is meant to be broken.

[Mcgibby]

Again, some of these comments are so far into left field that is scares me to live here. If you don't understand why this person does not have the right, that doesn't matter; they still don't have the right to tag or paint their "art" on buildings that they don't own. PERIOD. Why is this even a discussion?

[Mcgibby]

Make an example of him, please.

[kuruc]

you and your "homie" can go and clean it up.

[freedom of choice]

LET HIM GO. HEZ AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[freedom of choice]

im not saying its good but if its what they believe in then good 4 him.