Queer Ping Pong is coming to the Gropius Bau: combining table tennis with queer club culture, the participatory project creates a social space that overcomes the supposed contradiction between play and discourse. Accompanied by DJ sets, newcomers, pros, artists and children can come together in a playful way in the Gropius Bau. As part of Rirkrit Tiravanija’s solo exhibition, eight table tennis tables are set up in the atrium – free of charge and accessible to all. Rackets and balls are provided so that everyone can play.

Queer Ping Pong adapts to the respective location and integrates movement, music and post-migrant discourses. In doing so, the normative setting of club culture is reinterpreted: the events take place during the day and are free of charge. Everything is relaxed, the only thing that counts is enjoying the game and the community – from early afternoon until sunset – including the obligatory round-the-table.

Curation: Yeşim Duman

Project Organisation: Tülin Duman

Collaboration: Coven Berlin

Yeşim Duman is a curator and organiser working in transdisciplinary and collaborative projects. Her work as a music curator in the pop and club context, where she integrates various cultural and musical influences into her projects, is particularly noteworthy. Through participatory formats such as the Çaystube, Queer Chess Club or Queer Ping Pong, Duman creates inclusive spaces that remove the apparent contradictions between play and discourse. These participatory projects are central to Duman’s work and are intended to mobilise communities and promote dialogue, for example at a ping pong table.

Tülin Duman is a queer and human rights activist who has been involved in various projects against sexism, homophobia, transphobia and racism for many years. She is a member of F_in – Netzwerk Frauen im Fußball and programme advisor for the UEFA EURO 2024 supporting programme. Duman played a key role in several editions of the Kreuzberg Pride . From 2008 to 2011, Duman was the managing director of GLADT e.V. (Berlin), an association founded by lesbian, gay and trans* people of predominantly Turkish origin. 

During the event, photographs and video recordings may be made in which you may be recognisable. By attending, you consent to these recordings being used to communicate the event or exhibition.