Horse, Sheep, Goat, and Camel (2022).

Gelatine-cellulose sculptures installed on artificial grass, 200x100 cm

We are holding each other’s hand, laughing and spinning ever so faster. We are chanting songs while doing so. Next thing you know we are laying in trenches, for cover, while the enemy is pointing their weapons at us. When you close your eyes, you can see visions of the jungle. Your friend the tiger has come to gift you a fruit.

Colourful lights flicker onto your face, your hand is on the lever, pulling it, hoping for similar symbols.

Play and games have been around for as long as memory has existed. Approaching games and play from a historical point of view, some researches have argued that games and culture are deeply intertwined with one another.

Our earlier ancestors and animals are considered to have a playful nature too. Homo ludens an explanatory model according to which humans learn their abilities to deal with their environment through play highlights the importance of play.

The installation Horse, Sheep, Goat, and Camel shows an upscaled version of the bones used for traditional Mongolian games called Shagai. The sheep or goat ankle bone indicates four different sides:

the two slimmer side representing sheep and goat. The two broader sides showing camel and horse.