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Ping Pong Table
Ping Pong Table
Ping Pong Table
Photo: Prallan Allsten/Moderna Museet

Ping Pong Table

Artist (Sverige, 1929 - 2022)
Alternate Title
  • Pingpongbord
Date1964
MediumPlywood, plaster, metal, plastic fabric; painted with latex
Dimensions97,5 x 135 x 210 cm
ClassificationSculptures
Credit LinePurchase 1964
Object NumberNMSK 1850
The artwork is not on display
About the artworkImagine a table, drawn in perspective to look real. Imagine a joiner then making the table, totally disregarding the fact that the one-point perspective is a means of making the two-dimensional drawing look three-dimensional. This ping pong table is a deliberate misunderstanding on the way from drawing to finished table. But it is also a frozen moment, an arrested movement in a ping pong match, abandoned by the players. The balls have been drawn out into phallic objects, as though time and motion have become matter in an erotic serve… The ping pong table is also a commentary on pop art's fascination for all the banal objects of everyday life. They are made in enormous numbers - but your particular item becomes unique to you as you use it. This paradox is also illustrated by Oldenburg, often with a blend of tender and absurd humour.
Signatures, inscriptions and marks Etikett limmad på bord 1 undre sida: "sidney Janis gallery / 15 east 57 street new york 22 / #9929 / OLDENBURG Ping Pong Table / 1964 Olywood, Plaster & Metal 39 54 x 84"" Etikett limmad på bord 1 undre sida: "HAAGS GEMEENTEMUSEUM / TENTOONST. NIE WE REALISTER / Claes Oldenburg / Ping-Pong_table / Moderna Museet, Stockholm" Etikett limmad på bord 1 undre sida: "XXXIV Biennale Internazionale d'Arte / di Venezia 1968 / 95" Etikett limmad på bord 1 undre sida: "c y / DOGANA ITALIANA / 16515" Etikett limmad på bord 2 undre sida: "XXXIV Biennale Internazionale d'Arte / di Venezia 1968 / 95" Etikett limmad på bord 2 undre sida: "c y / DOGANA ITALIANA / 16514" Selected exhibition history Pop konst design (den 29 juni 2013 - den 22 september 2013) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Pop Art & Nouveau Réalisme, ur samlingarna (1991-1992) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Moderna Museet c/o Magasin 3 (den 23 mars 2002 - den 16 juni 2002) Magasin 3 Stockholm Konsthall Mästerverken åter. Verk av spanska konstnärer ur Samling S. runt den återbördade Picassos Källan. (1995) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Samlingsutställning 2004 - 2011 - I vår tid (2004 - 2011) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Claes Oldenburg - skulpturer och teckningar (1966) Moderna Museet, Stockholm The Moderna Museet exhibition catalogues The Masterpieces are back! : Moderna Museet, Spårvagnshallarna : [May 6th - August 27th 1995]Claes Oldenburg : skulpturer och teckningar : 17 sept - 30 okt 1966 Moderna MuseetMästerverken åter! Moderna Museet, Spårvagnshallarna : [6 maj - 27 augusti 1995]Pop Art & Nouveau realisme : ur Moderna Museets samlingar : Moderna Museet 26.12.1991 - 09.08.1992