Johnny is a great guy. Inquire with confidence. He is based in Paris but often travels to the states.

I forget the name, there's a group that travels around and restores Invaders in the street. Perhaps someone would remember their name and they might be able to offer advice.


graffoto1.blogspot.com/2016/12/space-invader-strikes-back.html?m=1

Think there's a make your own Invader thread on here that details which tiles he uses.

I saw that thread but unfortunately it's a sticker kit. And doesnt talk about matching tiles....at least not that I saw, were there more than just the 1 post/page?

It is understandable if Invader and Orbi prefer not to engage in discussions about replacement tiles for Invasion Kits.

They don't know what kind of people they'd be dealing with, and would have no control over how the information was used — or later circulated to others.

Revealing precise IK-tile manufacturer or retailer details could easily result in or aggravate fraud problems.

__________


Using the gift of foresight, here are two potential scenarios anybody could come up with:


1.  An IK owner may, understandably, wish to swap a few missing or broken tiles in their opened or framed IKs.

Now, say they later decide to offload the IKs. Would they proactively confirm to prospective buyers the fact that tiles were replaced?

-  Of course, withholding this information would be deceit.

-  However, disclosing this information would immediately (and dramatically) reduce the financial value of their IKs, along with the number of interested buyers. The incentive for sellers to keep inconvenient truths hidden is therefore obvious. For similar reasons, sellers might be tempted to rationalise their dishonesty — e.g. by arguing to their consciences that, since the tiles are identical, nothing's really changed and the oblivious buyers have suffered no harm.


[Philosophically, this also raises Theseus's paradox:

If a broken IK tile is replaced by another one produced at the same tile factory, does the whole still remain an authentic Invader piece? What if four or five broken IK tiles are switched? And how about if, over a long period of time, every single tile from the original IK issued by Invader's studio is replaced by a different yet identical tile?]


2.  Scammers could use information about an IK-tile manufacturer or retailer to create and sell counterfeit Invasion Kits.

"I removed the kit from the anti-static bag years ago and framed it, just like it was meant to be displayed. Wasn't bothered about the bag with instructions at the time, so it was binned. Didn't save the purchase-confirmation email either. That was stupid, but nobody cared about provenance or accompanying documentation back in the day. These kits were never investments for me; it was always about the ART.

Tell you what, I'll let this go for about a third of what a sealed kit normally sells for. And since it's already framed, you can hang it immediately. You save yourself the extra costs and hassle."


__________


I see no reason why the Invader team would wish to facilitate the above scenarios. That is in the wider interest of neither the artist nor his collectors.

If the artist himself were to supply replacement tiles, then we'd be in complete agreement.

I totally understand/appreciate/agree with the issues you raised and potential for misuse so I get why an answer from invader is unlikely. Given that though--i figured I would try a hail Mary here and ask an open inquiry and just "lay it on the table" per se. In an attempt to solve my issue having exhausted all the options I can think of myself. Already the forum has provided a wealth of new leads I didnt think of or know about. Unfortunately none have panned out yet, so trust me I get why this isnt just a simple fix.

Heres the thing....I've been involved in the trade of tiffany lamps since I was young with my late father. There are people today who are still working to forge those lamps. And the sophistication they employ is mind boggling. But were talking 30k to upwards of 500k values. And as the value goes up so does the incentive and number of people willing to do shady shit to con collectors out of their money. There are people in the tiffany world that horde and stockpile buckets worth of leftover authentic glass from tiffany studios that never made it into lamps. Most of them that I know do so for ethical purposes of repair and restoration of damaged works.....some are less than ethical. But the point is, even with access to the actual authentic glass made by tiffany studios they cant just make up a new lamp out of thin air because there are experts who can spot a fake based on other factors (lead line thickness, patina quality etc). So while the street art scene is relatively new, if it's going to stand the test of time like tiffany then there will be forgers along the way, and having access to matching replacement tiles is going to be the *least* of the hurdles the forgers will solve if they're going to begin to knock off invader kits. And so theres plenty of other factors one can use for authenticating works in the future.

Like i said I can fully appreciate the "risks" per se of making replacement tile available. Especially if it's too easily accessible. I've seen it firsthand both sides of the coin. But what I'm legitimately trying to do is make an open request to see if I cant get some help from someone in repairing my invader kits so I can frame them. TBH my intentions are that simple and are ethical.....of course the thief and the non thief will tell you the same thing "I'm not a thief" so I get why that statement isnt worth the pixels it's written with.

COURTESY HEADS-UP:

What follows is a very long-winded (and niche-interest) response addressing points raised by pdjones512.

Skipping over this post may be the preferred time-saving option for most forum members.

__________


1.  Also further to your point with invader kits soecifically.....has anybody seen one sell WITHOUT the bag and/or cardboard shipping material at this point?


Yes, purported Invasion Kit tiles have been sold or attempted to be sold without:

(i)  an anti-static bag and attached information sheet (comprising the IK edition details and User Guide);
(ii)  supporting provenance documentation like the order-confirmation email from La Space Shop; and/or
(iii)  the original postal packaging, any accompanying free Invader stickers, etc.

This has taken place on the forum, at dodgy auction houses, and on other sale platforms like eBay.

__________


Factors worth taking into account:


A.  Plenty of the older IK tiles will have been removed from their bags, but not always framed. I've seen a few photos where it was indicated that the IK tiles were glued directly onto internal or external walls. Such use was anticipated by Invader from the outset (at least for the early kits) — and arguably even encouraged. It allowed fans to join the game and participate in the invasion.


In this respect (notwithstanding minor English-language issues), the IK information sheets are revealing in their wording. Extracts from an older version:

"This IK™ was producted by INVADER. He declines all responsibility concerning future uses of this work. Enjoy invading."


"USER GUIDE:

1) Put tile glue on the back of the space invader. 2) Put the space invader on it support and clean the outline. 3) Let it dry. 4) Remove the plastic layer. 5) Clean the tile. 6) Invasion > successful"


User Guides for later IKs with adhesive already on the back (and therefore not requiring tile glue) refer to "Press it well against the wall using a piece of cloth."



B.  Early IKs were relatively inexpensive. Some were €75, others perhaps less. As late as 2008, the release price for numbered copies of IK.08 (Third Eye) was only €100.

For many collectors, that wasn't quite at the level of an impulse purchase. However, it was still cheap enough to contemplate adding tile glue to the back (pursuant to the User Guide instructions) and sticking the tiles directly onto the wall of one's home.



C.  The first IK, (Albinos), was released in 2000 and took three or four years to sell out. Even on this forum, there was some uncertainty about the artistic concept of the IKs. A few Invader fans expressed confusion; others were openly critical.

Have a look at this thread from December 2006:

urbanartassociation.com/thread/47787/space-invader-invasion-kit [2006]


Sample posts:



See also this thread, when the release of IK.07 (Union Space) was announced in October 2007:

urbanartassociation.com/thread/44707/space-invader-invasion-kits-next [2007]


Sample posts:



When reading such threads from over a decade ago, what's quickly apparent is the variety of feelings and opinions which existed in relation to Invasion Kits and their underlying concept.

The corollary is that Invader collectors also had different ideas about what IKs were actually comprised of:

For some (especially among buyers of subsequently-opened, early and/or unsigned IKs), the kits consisted of no more than just the tiles.

It was a good while later — following increased demand for the artist's work, higher prices, and greater awareness about the importance of record-keeping — before collectors more unanimously began to view the anti-static bag and information sheet as integral components of the IK.


___


I've emphasised the early years of Invasion Kits for a reason. Since:

(i)  a proportion of IK tiles were removed from their bags and applied directly to walls or other surfaces;
(ii)  prices at the time were low enough to allow some owners to treat IKs more as disposable works than as precious collectibles; and
(iii)  differences in viewpoints existed about precisely what an IK was (and whether it consisted of anything other than the tiles),

the motivations for certain collectors to retain their empty bags either diminished or ceased to exist.


Some bags and paperwork were consequently discarded or lost over the years. And given the later increases in the value of IKs, it should not be surprising if occasional efforts have been made to sell IK tiles on their own.


__________


2.  IMHO this forum would quickly shred a seller who's trying to market any invader kit that "has the proper tiles but just so happens to have lost the bag and everything else--so they're selling it for half price"


When attempted forum sales have previously taken place of tiles without IK anti-static bags, information sheets or provenance documentation, no "shredding" occurred. Instead, comments typically focused on the situation being unfortunate for the seller from a market perspective.

See for example these threads on purported IK tiles without packaging or proof of purchase:

urbanartassociation.com/thread/106664/invader-invasion-kits [2013]

urbanartassociation.com/thread/142162/invader-home-invasion-paris-2009 [2016]

urbanartassociation.com/thread/146756/invader-invasion-kit-02-octopus [2017]



3.  IMHO being able to have access to the exact tiles for restoration doesnt *really* pose that much of a threat to the market for invader kits from some rogue forger


Your faith on this point would conflict with my belief.

Fraudsters having access to the exact tiles (and anti-static bags) used by Invader do in my view pose a real threat to the market for IKs.

Fake Invasion Kits — including with tiles sealed in counterfeit, screenprinted anti-static bags with forged information sheets — are already known to have been in circulation. That's definitely the case for the IKs produced with miniature tiles: IK.09 (Hypnotic Vienna) and IK.13 (Made in Japan).

It's an issue acknowledged by the artist when he was said to have notified at least one auction house (Artcurial).

Two 'Warning' threads offer more details:

urbanartassociation.com/thread/110899/warning-fake-sealed-invader-kit [2013]

urbanartassociation.com/thread/113134/fake-kits-careful [2014]


Separately, despite the obvious risks, some collectors are still prepared to buy purported IK tiles accompanied by neither their original bags nor any documentation. So there is a market for this type of thing, even if it's probably restricted in scope.


To illustrate, see these posts from the 2014 thread on fake IKs:


[As a side note, even if such tiles were authentic, I would class them as merely "Invasion Kit tiles". They ceased being "Invasion Kits" per se when the anti-static bags with attached information sheets were binned or lost.]



Under the above circumstances, to my mind it seems preferable that there be as little information as possible in public circulation regarding Invader's sources for component parts of his Invasion Kits.

A distinction exists here with the tiles used by the artist for street pieces. In relation to the latter, the objectives and interests which need to be considered are quite different.

Any chance of a picture, where you are based, what's your blood type etc etc ? Cheers

have sent you an email
Best
f

Still available?

PM the seller rather than bump this again as they probably won't see it, also they don't get notifications you've posted here unless you tag them. Hopefully then you'll get an answer