Eva Burton MFA

Master-Thesis: "WHEN PLAY MEETS RITUAL"

Supervision: Prof. Ute Eitzenhöfer, Prof. Eva-Maria Kollischan, Prof. Theo Smeets

"Play allows us to step out our everyday routine. It presents us with an intermezzo, an interlude that embellishes our existence. Through play a hedged area is delimitated into a temporary world, a sacred spot.

Play is circumscribed into space, either materially or ideally. The arena, the card-table, the magic circle, the temple, the stage, the screen, are all in form and function play-grounds, which have as well hallowed spots within their particular rules. These places are all temporary worlds in the limits of the ordinary world. Inside the playground an absolute and peculiar order reigns. Play creates order. In an imperfect world and the confusion of life man seeks for limited perfection. Play demands order, absolute and supreme.
While we play, we transcend the immediate needs of life. By the use of the word "transcend", we imply a connection of play with the spiritual: play creates an artificial space beyond that of ordinary life.
Play and ritual are braided together. Play brings order, ritual as well.
Rituals build a hierarchy where the Gods are at a higher level and through expiation humans reach a balance with the Cosmos.

What happens when play meets ritual? An extraordinary blend comes to light and the playground that we knew becomes a consecrated spot. A performance full of symbolism is born where the players represent the opposing forces of Nature fighting to reach a balance, stretching their limits, seeking for the stability of the world where they live."

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