Re-reading
"Knockout Tournament: Conversations over a Ping-pong Table" was a response to the invitation by Teer Art Week extended to the New Media Society, which launched with an unconventional open call in January 2019 (Dey 1397): an invitation for a dialogue among artists while playing table tennis.
To understand the context in which this call was formed, one must delve a little into the dynamics of the Tehran art scene. At the time this call was published, many artists—whose numbers were increasing day by day—were dissatisfied with how institutions and galleries interacted with them, and the gaps and competitions were gradually becoming more and more apparent. A select few had access to galleries and, through them, to collectors and the art market, while a vast majority were seeking a way to exhibit their works. While many artists were grappling with the costs of producing and presenting their work, a virtual crisis was firmly taking root: professional credibility and resumes were defined by collaborations with a small number of galleries, along with the ability of these institutions to construct a specific representation using grandiose visual language and towering fortresses that drew an impenetrable fence around themselves. Meanwhile, events that promised prosperity and change to the community through extensive advertising were demanding more space without offering any structural change—spaces where the boundary between art, entertainment, and the consumption of goods and services remained blurred. The resulting frustration for those kept outside this playing field was gradually becoming more evident and even sparked protests.
The challenge for the New Media Society, as an independent space, was how to utilize this invitation to create a platform for critique and dialogue without putting an object up for sale or display, or excluding others from the project's circle by focusing solely on the work of one or a few artists. This was made possible by invoking an everyday object that could be activated collectively (a ping-pong table), and relying on the audience of this experimental space. The "Knockout Tournament," with its humorous title, alluded to what was happening within the art community and sought to make visible a competition that was not customarily talked about.
A short text published on social media is as follows: "Coinciding with Tehran Art Week, New Media Projects intends to hold a series of conversations in a new format: a meeting over a ping-pong table under the pretext of a knockout tournament between artists. These encounters will take place between artists who have a contract with or are represented by a gallery and artists who work independently, organized through invitation, open call, and a random draw. The dialogue between the two parties takes shape while playing ping-pong, which itself evokes a back-and-forth conversation. After introductions, artists will be asked to talk to each other and the audience about their experiences and working atmosphere during the game. In the end, a symbolic trophy will be awarded to the winner of this knockout tournament; however, the real victory and implicit goal will be achieved by initiating conversations, making new acquaintances, and establishing new connections."
A nominal entry fee was set for participating in the matches, which was spent on purchasing equipment such as a score counter and some spare rackets and balls. Watching the matches was free of charge, but due to limited capacity, it required reserving a seat. Alongside casual visitors and the participants themselves, many spectators and audience members also played and conversed between matches and during rest periods.
On the terrace overlooking the main hall, a simple reception of tea and sweets was set up, with chairs placed around for sitting and watching. The matches were recorded by a ceiling-mounted camera and occasionally were broadcast via Instagram Live for online audiences. The games were scheduled from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, but sometimes continued until late at night. The results were written with chalk on a black wall, and the names of the artists on paper slips were updated according to the match outcomes. Over the course of a week, from January 4 to 11, 2019 (14 to 21 Dey 1397), thirty-two participants took part in the knockout tournament, and ultimately, the top three finalists were determined.
During these conversations and matches, numerous artists and art enthusiasts got to know one another and each other's work. Through this, opportunities emerged for professional and experimental conversations regarding artistic practice, which continued with the exchange of ideas and opinions on the current state of contemporary art and resilience in the face of upcoming circumstances.
Bahar Ahmadifard, a collaborator of New Media Projects, has covered this tournament and its margins in a sports-style report. This text can be read in Persian on the New Media Projects website.