Zoonotic viral spillover

In this ‘game’ one of the theories of how new viruses end up infecting humans, when they had previously just been circulating harmlessly among bats is explained.

Deforestation in rainforests, to make way for intensive farming for global demand for cheap food, leads to the bats leaving their home and setting up nearer to humans. They then pass the virus onto other animals who are even closer to humans, such as domestic animals, or those exploited and packed in in unnatural environments, such as those in wet markets or the fur trade. These animals are much closer to humans and the virus eventually jumps to them. A simplistic explanation of what is a deeply complex problem, at the heart of which seems to be an exploitation of the natural world and its resources to mainly satisfy the greed of consumerist societies.

Reading up about the potential to release ‘mindboggling numbers of viruses’ if we continue along the path we are heading, really hit home, and shows how important the natural world and our relationship with it is. ‘Emissaries of Hope and Possibility’ is a more light-hearted look at human relationships with animals during this pandemic, where as this one has a more urgent and serious message highlighting the possible consequences if we do not act now. The original antique board games are usually hand coloured lithographs, so I wanted to mimic this look by hand colouring, digital prints with watercolours.