Influential Japanese manga artist Taiyo Matsumoto’s five volume graphic novel series Ping Pong (1996-2001), published by Shogakukan, explores the relationship between two teenage friends and ping pong players. The coming of age story told in the series was the inspiration for the 2002 movie Ping Pong..
His drawing style has a kinetic energy which captures the nature of ping pong and moves the reader through the pages of this graphic novel at a dramatic rate, with a few moments of quiet contemplation.
"American comics are powerful and cool. European comics seem very intellectual. And Japanese comics are very light-hearted. If you could combine the best of all three, you could create some really tremendous work. That's my goal."
This weekend, Come Along, Ping Pong invites anyone in London to play on tables designed by artists and designers especially for the Barbican art gallery. The event is produced in collaboration with Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club. The Workinng Men's Club hold both racy and refined weekly events including ping pong. Come Along, Ping Pong is part of the art events of Do Something Different and East.
Round up your balls, grab your paddle and saddle up for Ping Pong Country. A union of ping pong, country music, graphic design and art installation, Ping Pong Country is the creative heart of the ping pong scene in Berlin. PPC hosts events throughout the year in Berlin and around the world that focus on cultural space and social relationship. Each event and environment is site specific and includes custom-made ping pong tables; 2 and 3-dimensional artworks; video projection; found objects; D.J.'s spinning swing, rockabilly, and country music; and of course ping pong. Remco Schuurbiers and Bijan Dawallu founded Ping Pong Country in 2001 and are the two main contributors. PPC was in its heyday from 2001 to 2007,but since 2007, while still hosting events, it has been less active. Check out the Art of Ping Pong Country Web site and git yr' self some PPC gear at The World of PPC Web site.
Grand Opening Public Projects, which brought you Pong and Pong 2.0, is about to open Pong 3.0. Ben Symth, along with his esteemed colleagues at Grand Opening, has transformed the vacant storefront at 371 Grand Street into a single ping pong parlor in the heart of the Lower East Side. Members compete to move up a ladder and earn the chance to participate in the L.E.S. Cup, the season ending tournament. Pong, Summer 2007, and Pong 2.0, Summer 2008, brought together a diverse group of people who love to play ping pong, and ultimately created a strong community of talented players.
Dick Miles' book on table tennis was the first book I read on the subject of table tennis and I have been a fan of the sport every since. When I was a kid, my father, Joe Walloch, give me the book for Christmas of 1977. If you get a chance, check the book out. Buy a copy at your local bookstore or check your local library.
Ambiguous is sponsoring a travel exhibit of painted ping pong paddles from around the world. Tonight the show is in Denver at 2632 E. 3rd Ave. I was in Seattle when the show was in Brooklyn at 303 Grand on August 1, so sadly I missed it. Click here for some photos of the paddles and keep on eye on the Ambiguous Blog to see what city the show is traveling to next.
