Playing field: the metro.
The Invaders of the Paris Metro
Among the most unusual mosaics are those found in the Paris metro. With its 16 lines spanning over 245 km, the Parisian network is one of the largest in Europe, providing an ideal playground for the artist Invader.
Works visible to all...
The artist has installed numerous works directly in the corridors, in plain sight of travelers:
SIs installed in the corridors
...to the mythical specimens of the tunnels
What makes the "Space" in the tunnels so legendary is the extreme difficulty in flashing them via the app.
SIs in the tunnels
Legendary
- PA_274 L1 March 14, 2000
- PA_1491 to PA_1494 L4 October 5, 2023
Note that PA_1492 and 1494 can be flashed from the platforms.
The technical challenge: how to flash in the dark?
Successfully flashing while in motion is a technical challenge, as two major obstacles face flashers: the lack of GPS signal underground and the speed of the train.
How to flash in a tunnel
- Surface preparation — Go to the exact GPS coordinates above the tunnel and perform an initial flash to lock the position in the app.
- Signal isolation — Enable airplane mode and place the phone in a Faraday cage to prevent any GPS position updates once underground. (Note: the Faraday cage is optional)
- The approach — Move to the front or back of the train for the best visibility.
- The flash — As you approach the SI, remove the phone from the cage (while still in airplane mode) and try to capture the mosaic. The trick is to match the train's movement with your upper body to minimize blur and get the clearest possible capture.
This technique is difficult to master. If you're having trouble, you can contact
Truman B.
on Discord. He will flash the SIs for you in exchange for a kebab 🥙…