This is entry #16 in our ongoing 100 Philosophers, 100 Artworks, 100 Words Series.

Philosopher: Ellen Fridland (King’s College London)

Artwork: Invader, Invader (roughly 1990s to present, ceramic tile and glue, multiple locations)

Words: Invader is a street artist who glues ceramic tiles to public buildings, walls, bridges, etc. The result is remarkable for several reasons: 1. There’s something nostalgic in the low-fi, Atari-like images that he creates. 2. There’s the surprise and delight of finding a new Invader in an unexpected location, and 3. There’s the political message of the Invader, which draws awareness to the barrage of ads, billboards, videos etc. constantly invading one’s space. Of course, there’s also the joy of sharing Invader spottings with friends, who then go on to notice and delight in the many Invaders in their midst.