The Ballplayers
2023
“It was not just a game, but a way to connect and shape life in this world.”
The series Ballplayers were inspired by the ball game of the ancient Maya. The ball game of the Maya had great symbolic meaning and was closely connected to religious beliefs. For the Maya, the ball game was a cosmic game between the forces of life and death, of good and evil.
There were many rituals and offerings surrounding the game. The players and the audience made sacrifices to gain the favor of the gods and to ensure that the game proceeded in the right direction and did not lead to disaster.
In the event of a loss, there could be serious consequences, as players could even sacrifice their own lives in the game. Some Maya stories tell of players intentionally losing in order to offer their lives and serve the gods. It was believed that the sacrifice of a player in the ball game was a great honor and granted access to a higher life in the afterworld.
Overall, the ball game of the Maya can be seen as an important cultural event that had deep spiritual and religious significance. It was not just a game, but a way to connect with the gods and shape life in this world and the next.
The Ballplayer team is a mix of characters from a wide range of art historic and cultural spectrum from ancient Egypt to the animations of Looney Tunes.
