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23 On Now

Wildcard

7th Jan — 31st Aug 2019

In 2019 artist Phoebe Davies joined us as artist in residence at Wildcard Amateur Boxing Club. Alongside Aimee Harrison (former Heart of Glass Producer), Joseph Bond (artist and sound designer) and Rose Nordin (graphic designer), Phoebe worked with the club’s young boxers to develop a series of new print and sound works.

Project Details
Categories
  • Young People,
  • Care
Creative Team
  • Artist: Phoebe Davies
  • Producer: Aimee Harrison
  • Artist & Sound Designer: Joseph Bond
  • Graphic Designer: Rose Nordin
  • Contributor: Dom Hodnett
  • Contributor: Ste Cox
  • Contributor: Matt Grayson
  • Contributor: Wildcard A.B.C coaches and staff
  • Contributor: Wildcard A.B.C youth boxers

Speed balls, battle ropes and ring side drills

Wildcard A.B.C is situated in Parr Sports and Community Centre, St Helens. Established in 2009, they provide boxing and fitness classes for every level, from novice to champion. They are a grass roots community club with the aim of enhancing and improving their community’s health, well-being, attainment and aspiration.

During 2019, Phoebe facilitated workshops, interviews, site-specific photoshoots and field recording sessions held during boxing classes and local bouts.

Phoebe worked alongside young boxers to develop the following artworks:

2019

Left Hook - Right Hook

An artist print including two photo books and two zines, using visual imagery documented on site, DIY publishing and script writing to explore physicality, identity, competitiveness and mental health in the boxing club.

A collage of images with black text. They read 'LEFT HOOK', 'HEAD', 'BODY', 'RIGHT HOOK'.
A college of images of young women boxing and close up images of boxing gloves.
A collection of images, a young woman in boxing kit, a tattooed arm and a boxing glove.
A black and white magazine spread image including a collage of faces and a large amount of text.
A black and white image reading 'RIGHT HOOK' in black text. An image of a young person wearing a green sports vest and wiping their mouth with their hand.
A man points a torch in to a young persons mouth.
A black and white magazine spread image including a collage of faces and a large amount of text.
2019

Post Bout

A series of limited edition portrait photographs taken ringside, post bout.

You can view a selection of these images by scrolling through the gallery below.

A man points a torch in to a young persons mouth.
A young person with light hair, wearing a green sports vest looks as if they have just turned to look at the camera. They are red faced and sweaty.
A woman in a green sports top and a red lanyard around her neck looks in to the distance and smiles.
A young person with dark hair, wearing a green sports vest wipes their nose with their hand.
A young person with dark hair, wearing a green sports vest stands looking directly at the camera. They have a bloody nose and they are sweating.
A man wearing a green sports top and a red lanyard is talking to a young person in a green sports vest. The man is gesturing with their hand. The young person is red faced,
A young woman wearing a striped top and a black and green sports jacket stands a looks to one side.
A man with tattoos on one arm, wearing a green sports top stands with crossed arms and looks to one side.
2019

Wildcard A.B.C Sample Pack

A library of sounds recorded in the boxing gym during training sessions, sparing and local bouts. The sample pack consists of a collection of loops and one-shots designed to be used as building blocks for sound work and music in the boxing gym’s future creative productions.

Download
2020

Switching Stance

Click here to listen.

A soundwave from the website Soundcloud showing the title 'Switching Stance' with an image of a young woman wearing boxing gloves.

Switching Stance is a mix of the beats and soundscapes composed by the young boxers, using a variety of samples including; motivational vocals from the Wildcard coaches, speed balls, battle ropes and ring side drills. This mix maps the young boxers’ anxieties, adrenaline and exhaustion during training sessions and pre and post bouts.

Switching Stance features contributions from Sam, Lucy, Ellie K, Kelsey, Storm, Frazer, Ciara, Leah, Joseph, Phoebe and Aimee.

2019

Training Portraits

Scroll through to see a selection of the training portraits taken throughout the residency.

A metal bar against a red and white background. An orange strap is wrapped around the bar with a carabiner attached.
Image by Phoebe Davies
A person with bright red nails ties the laces on a white boxing glove.
A person wearing a navy t-shirt and black long sleeved top pulls on a pair of black and gold boxing gloves.
A young person wearing a blue boxing headguard and black and green boxing gloves holds their hands on top of their head in a boxing ring. In the background two people are boxing on a black and red chequered floor.
A young person with blonde hair wears a black t-shirt and thing black, fingerless gloves. They are tying their hair in a ponytail.
A person is removing a green and yellow sports top. They have a black long sleeved top underneath.
A young person leans against the inside corner of a boxing ring. They are wearing a black and white headguards and red and white boxing gloves.
Image by Phoebe Davies
A young person wears a black long sleeve top, a blue sports vest and black boxing gloves. A tattooed arm holds a boxing pad close to their face.

Inspired by her work with Wildcard A.B.C, Phoebe is currently in the process of researching new video work with boxers and coaches, which she hopes to develop over the next few years.

Phoebe Davies

Read more

Special Thanks

This project would not have been possible without the support of Dom Hodnett, Ste Cox, Joanne Abbott, Jackie Allen, Mike Gill, Wayne Phillips, Gary Talbott, Carl Roby, Danny Haury, Ant Porter, Jill May, Hannah Palfrey, Linsey Porter, Steph Crilly, Yvonne Abbott and Matt Grayson.

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