ABOUT
The Game is an independent creative artivism initiative and a collaboration between photographer Dmitry Kostyukov, 3D-artist Rodion Romantsov, creative director Misha Rakytianskyi and curators Azad Asifovich and Asli Samadova. Project advisors are DeLovie Kwagala and Asia Namusoke Mbajja.
The Game is a unique NFT collection of 11 hyper-realistic and detailed depictions of DIY balls. Each artwork requires months of artisanal 3D modeling with up to 50,000,000 polygons each. The artworks depict unique textures of plastic waste, rope fibers, dust particles, and custom raytracing to elevate surface translucency.
In 2018, photojournalist Dmitry Kostyukov spotted children playing with DIY balls in Nakivale Refugee Camp in Uganda and several neighbourhoods of its capital Kampala. Fascinated by these artefacts made with scrap materials, Dmitry photographed about twenty of them, willing to pay tribute to the ingenious young football players he befriended in Uganda. Further research revealed that this practice of upcycling is common in many parts of the world.
Dmitry started photographing the balls as portraits, the same way he would do for humans. He put the balls on a plain background. By doing so, he created an aesthetically accepted image that could be admired by gallery visitors or art collectors. The aim was to catch their eye and incite them to observe with attention these objects. By looking closely, one discovers that each ball has its own character, design method, and materials.
The Game project contributes to building alternative narratives and joins the polyphony of voices and wider representation in art.
The digital artworks will be sold at an auction in spring 2023. By then, each of 11 NFT balls will be assigned to 11 beneficiaries. The selected beneficiaries will meet the criteria of transparency, integrity, accountability and reputation.
The Game is a tribute to the creativity of Ugandan children who use similar DIY balls to play street football. 50% of sale revenues will benefit Ugandan NGOs, activists and social enterprises.
The Game is above all an ode to playfulness inspired by the children in the Nakivale camp. However, the project team does not want to use children's creativity as a simple resource. That is why the profits of the project will go to NGOs, activists and social enterprises that are working with children from Uganda.
The Game official website: https://the-game.tech/
BALL 011
"BRAVERY"
Plastic trash bag on top, yellow polyethylene rope, misc plastic waste filament
BALL 001
"NOMAD"
A mash-up of textured cloth parts with translucent plastic. filled with black rubber
BALL 008
"RELIC"
Black heavy-duty plastic wrap, misc trash contents, yellow synthetic rope
BALL 009
"NINE"
A heavy-duty plastic rope as the main cover material, with a white translucent trash bag base layer
BALL 091
"DONKEY"
Oiled cloth rope wrapped around a polyethylene garbage bag, miscellaneous paper waste infill
BALL 023
"MINI"
Layers of transparent plastic wrap are tied in with a yellow heavy-duty rope. An inlay is unknown
BALL 017
"PINKY"
Translucent plastic bag cover, plastic rope, misc paper filament
BALL 012
"ROBIN"
Heavy-duty plastic cover, yellow rope, unknown filament material
BALL 045
"GLOBE"
A synthetic polypropylene-like material on the cover, filled with soft foam sponges
BALL 028
"GOOFY"
Nylon fibers tied together with yellow polypropylene rope, crashed cardboard inlay
BALL 099
"THE LAST ONE"
Three-color rope, trash bag debris, inflated infill with rubber bands wrap-around
Ball 099 Limited Edition x PINA is a hyper-realistic CGI depiction of a ball made from scrap materials. In 2018, photojournalist Dmitry Kostyukov spotted children playing football with similar balls in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda and the neighborhoods of its capital Kampala.
This encounter inspired The Game—an independent creative artivism NFT project that aims at supporting Ugandan NGOs and activists.
Before rolling out our complete collection in 2023, the Game team runs a pilot: 50% of the sale revenues of Ball 099 Limited Edition x PINA (ed. 1000, 0.1 ETH) will benefit People In Need Agency (PINA) that celebrates voices of Ugandan children and youths especially those living with HIV/AIDS and survivors of child sexual abuse. PINA raises these children with elevated standards and expectations, they become advocates, peer educators, role models, and resourceful people in their schools and communities.
TEAM
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