One ping pong table, five years, and countless of unexpected moments

[u/baekachu]

In 2011, Japanese photographer Haruhisa Tomiyasu started photographing one ordinary ping pong table from the window of his student apartment in Leipzig, Germany. What began after spotting a fox near the table quickly turned into a five-year project documenting all the unexpected ways people used it. It became a bench, a sunbathing spot, a workout station, a meeting place, and sometimes something completely different. Thousands of small moments later, the project became the photobook TTP, published by MACK in 2018 and winner of the MACK First Book Award. It’s a simple reminder that even the most ordinary places can become fascinating when you watch them long enough.

[u/PotatoTomato_12]

Just noticed there’s no grass under where it would have been. You’re right.

[u/Dramatic-Camel-3758 → u/PotatoTomato_12]

I would like to believe that’s the case too but I don’t think it is. OP said photographer first took a picture when he noticed a fox by the table, so the table was already there when they began the project.

However I think the emotion and the sadness of the loss only adds to beauty of the series.

[u/Areif → u/PotatoTomato_12]

Tree growth in the background, dead giveaway.

Edit: autocorrect

[u/Undella_Town → u/PotatoTomato_12]

?? no he's not lmao. idk why you guys are deluding yourselves.

What began after spotting a fox near the table quickly turned into a five-year project documenting

[u/PotatoTomato_12 → u/Undella_Town]

Breaking news, someone might have spread misinformation on the internet???

[u/TrickShape905 → u/PotatoTomato_12]

Misinformation like "it's being installed in the last picture"?

[u/PotatoTomato_12 → u/TrickShape905]

Could be, could not. I choose to believe what’s right and makes me happy, unlike you :3

[u/PessimisticKarma → u/PotatoTomato_12]

Plot twist, the whole area is being destroyed.

[u/Smelly_God → u/PessimisticKarma]

Why would they install with concrete already around the bottom of the posts?

[u/TrickShape905 → u/PotatoTomato_12]

There's no grass anywhere in the lot, what the hell are you guys on about? Coping so hard you're hallucinating things.

"there’s no grass under where it would have been" how does this even make sense? You realize tables block sunlight and don't really promote grass growth under them, right? Especially in a gravel lot?

[u/PotatoTomato_12 → u/TrickShape905]

Ok hear me out. Look at the pics, grass grows underneath the table. Wowzers.

Last pic, there’s no square spot of grass anywhere (omigod!! :O)

When you remove the table, the grass doesn’t magically despawn, something you’d know if you went outside once a week.