Douglas Edric Stanley / 2001 / France

Originally conceived and designed in the wake of September 11th and the public response to those events, Douglas Edric Stanley’s “Invaders!” is a reflection on the ominous dangers posed by attack from the skies above. A reprogramming of the arcade classic “Space Invaders,” Stanley’s game was first projected against the façade of the Marseille World Trade Center. Passersby were able to “shoot” the alien ships with whatever light sources they had on hand, such as household flashlights, to halt the 8-bit incursion. Powered by a cigarette adapter and laptop batteries, “Invaders!” is designed for maximum mobility, and subsequent installations have allowed participants to fire at alien ships with their fingers, arms or other body parts. While the weapon of choice may vary with different installations of the game, each version reflects Stanley’s longstanding interest in interactivity and algorithmic manipulation.