Edo Ball by Andrew Archer

What does it look like when you combine Basketball with Ancient Japanese art? Andrew Archer's work tells the story of an avid fascination with Ukiyo-e art, Japanese culture and the universally loved game of Basketball. Originally creating two personal artworks back in 2013 for his own enjoyment, Archer was not prepared for how popular his work would become. It turns out that quite a few people share an intense love for Japanese artistry and sports mash-ups.

About

"After multiple project collaborations with basketball brands based on the two popular artworks, I decided in mid 2016 to revisit the series. They had always been on my mind and my passion for the game and culture was forever growing. Over the last 12 months I have patiently crafted 8 new original artworks to accompany the original 2 artworks. Each artwork has a story behind it. Some are based on Japanese mythology and culture, others are narratives based on players nick-names and some are created from popular sayings from the game of basketball.

All of the artworks are available as Giclee prints, postcards and 'bento box' combination packs which consist of a mix of the two and T-shirts at edoball.com & the store. Over the next couple of months while the NBA playoffs are going I'll also be doing giveaway's of prints, postcards and T-shirts on my Instagram to celebrate the series and playoffs!

This is my tribute to the game. "

- Andrew Archer

(The Reaper, Above Left) — Shinigami is the death reaper in the Japanese culture and religion and is responsible for inviting people to the underworld. Shinigami was present on March 10, 2013 at a Detroit Pistons, LA Clippers game and is assumed to have been behind the vicious dunk by DeAndre Jordan on Brandon Knight.

(The Klaw, Above Right) — Kawaii! And Kawhi Leonard, a.k.a The Klaw. A two way player for the San Antonio Spurs who is known for his defensive prowess. Sporting a long wingspan and extremely large hands makes The Klaw a nuisance on the defensive end of the court. Kawhi is also the leader of the Cornrow Club, being one of the last NBA players to rock cornrows.

(The Black Mamba, Above Left) — On the 23rd of August 1978, Kobe Bryant, a.k.a The Black Mamba was born. Kobe spent 20 seasons in the NBA showcasing his iconic playstyle which was much like the snake itself. A relentless attacker with fantastic coordination and fundamentals, Kobe had the ability to break down any defender 1 on 1 and took over games with the best of them.

(The Object of Desire, Above Right) — The one and only object of desire, the basketball. The sleepless nights after a bad game, the summer afternoons with the squad at the park. Fans of the game are born with the desire to play, to compete and to be involved in the culture of the game.

The Reign Man, Above Left) — Shawn Kemp, a.k.a The Reign Man was born November 26, 1969 and was one of the greatest high flyers of them all. He spent the majority of his NBA years playing for the Seattle Supersonics, a city which is notoriously known for always raining. Kemps signature shoe, The Kamikaze is one of the most unique shoes to bless the hardwood and matched his on-court personality flawlessly.

(The Splash Brothers, Above Right) — Steph Curry & Klay Thompson are The Splash Brothers, the starting PG & SG duo of the Golden State Warriors. The Splash Brothers nickname refers to the duo's ability to "splash" the net with the ball, particularly on three-point shots. Arguably two of the greatest shooters of all-time, The Splash Brothers can make it rain from anywhere on the court. The shooting range, quickness of release and fundamentally sound shooting form makes them a tough cover for anyone.

#art