Paddle masters: artist-designed ping pong bats on show at KK Outlet gallery

Being advocates of ping pong design, Wallpaper* was thrilled to hear about an annual charity auction, selling bespoke artist-designed table tennis paddles as part of an exhibition called 'The Art of Ping Pong'. Throughout November, the public are invited to purchase the bats – on show at the London outpost of KK Outlet gallery – in an eBay-style online bidding. The project is the brainchild of design agency Fivefootsix, who have welcomed a mix of new talent and established artists to be inspired by the game and create imaginative forms on the bats.

Newpaul And Anthony Burill
The annual exhibition 'The Art of Ping Pong' is on show at London's KK Outlet gallery, showcasing a range of artist-designed table tennis paddles. Pictured left: Anthony Burrill's typographic and witty design. Right: Paul Catherall's abstract form
(Image credit: The Art of Ping Pong’)

Being advocates of ping pong design, Wallpaper* was thrilled to hear about an annual charity auction, selling bespoke artist-designed table tennis paddles as part of an exhibition called 'The Art of Ping Pong'.

Throughout November, the public are invited to purchase the bats – on show at the London outpost of KK Outlet gallery – in an eBay-style online bidding. The project is the brainchild of design agency Fivefootsix, who have welcomed a mix of new talent and established artists to be inspired by the game and create imaginative forms on the bats.

Now in its third (and most star-studded) year, the playfully eclectic set ranges from Noma Bar's ambiguous human face hidden in a variety of ping pong motifs, through Marion Deuchars’ sweetly simplistic bird design, to Supermundane's and Malika Favre’s combination of pop art and vibrantly graphic styles. Adding wit to the collection is British artist Anthony Burrill’s typographic and humorous ‘No Ping No Pong’; while Paul Catherall's geometric aesthetic resonates in the abstract shapes of his hand painted design.

Fivefootsix also gave a student from London Met's Cass faculty of art, design and architecture an opportunity to design a paddle in a competition. Winner João Cardoso decided on a whimsical flip-flop shoe, complete with straps and imprinted base.

Previous years have seen even more animated forms including floral prints by Matthew Green, a carved smiling ice cream by Malarky and a cartoon fried egg by Daniel Frost.

Act fast if you want to get your hands on one of these fun pieces – bidding ends on 30 November, with all proceeds to be donated to BBC Children in Need. For those always on the go, Fivefootsix have also introduced a bidding app – developed by Roll Studio – so there is no excuse to not get in the game.

 ping pong design     KK Outlet gallery  

Newcraig And Karl Julie

The project is the brainchild of design agency Fivefootsix, who have invited a mix of new talent and established artists to design the bats. Pictured left: a kinetically lurid Craig & Karl design. Right: Julie Hyld's floral imagery is particularly delicate

(Image credit: The Art of Ping Pong’)

Newnoma And Merian

Pictured left: Noma Bar's ambiguous human face, hidden in a variety of ping pong motifs. Right: Marion Deuchars' sweetly simplistic bird design

(Image credit: The Art of Ping Pong’)

Asako Masunouchi

Pictured left to right: designs by Asako Masunouchi, Petra Börner and Kids With Puns

(Image credit: The Art of Ping Pong’)

Joa And Jordie

Pictured left: Cass student João Cardoso's whimsical flip-flop. Right: Jordy van den Nieuwendijk's colourful paddle

(Image credit: The Art of Ping Pong’)

New super mundane And Malaika

Pop art meets graphic design with Supermundane's (left) and Malika Favre's (right) prints

(Image credit: The Art of Ping Pong’)

Kate Forrester And Luke Dixon

Pictured left: Kate Forrester's marquetry design. Right: Luke Dixon's intricate artwork

(Image credit: The Art of Ping Pong’)

Newlynnie Elliot Kruz

Pictured left: a cubist design by Lynnie Zulu. Right: Elliot Kruszynski's animated print

(Image credit: The Art of Ping Pong’)

New owen And Peter

Bidding ends on 30 November, with all proceeds to be donated to BBC Children in Need. Pictured left: galactic print by Owen Gildersleeve. Right: Peter Judson's referential table tennis sketch

(Image credit: The Art of Ping Pong’)

New toby And Claudine

Pictured left: more table tennis motifs are found in Toby Melville-Brown's design. Right: Claudine O’Sullivan's abstract, primal artwork

(Image credit: The Art of Ping Pong’)

INFORMATION
’The Art of Ping Pong’ is on view until 25 November. The auction runs until 30 November at ’The Art of Ping Pong’’s website

ADDRESS

KK Outlet
42 Hoxton Square
London, N1 6PB

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Sujata Burman is a writer and editor based in London, specialising in design and culture. She was Digital Design Editor at Wallpaper* before moving to her current role of Head of Content at London Design Festival and London Design Biennale where she is expanding the content offering of the showcases. Over the past decade, Sujata has written for global design and culture publications, and has been a speaker, moderator and judge for institutions and brands including RIBA, D&AD, Design Museum and Design Miami/. In 2019, she co-authored her first book, An Opinionated Guide to London Architecture, published by Hoxton Mini Press, which was driven by her aim to make the fields of design and architecture accessible to wider audiences.