News
Events | 24 April 2023
Counterpunch
Friday 26 May - Monday 5 June 2023, National Stadium, Dublin 8
Counterpunch is an exhibition made with women boxers and their coaches from Corinthians Boxing Club, by visual artist Sharon Kelly.
Together they looked at how women deal with the specific challenges of boxing, requiring both physical and mental resilience. By meeting, listening, interviewing, observing and documenting, Sharon Kelly gained insight into their sport and what it means to them as women.
The boxers themselves were directly involved in the creation of the work. Working with the women in a process that was exploratory, curious and enjoyable for all involved, Sharon developed an organic way of allowing art and boxing to collide.
The resulting multi-media exhibition at the National Stadium Gym explores ideas and materials found in the sport of boxing. The artworks represent how energy is transferred through punching drills and sparring, how this energy leaves a mark, and builds resilience and stamina.
The exhibition is open from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, all ages are welcome and no booking is required (children under 12 need to be accompanied by an adult). You can also join us for our fun family day on Monday 5 June, with art activities, boxing taster sessions and more!
We welcome sports clubs, schools and community groups for a free group tour of the exhibition, contact programme@dublincitycouncilculturecompany.ie to arrange.
Plan Your Visit
| Friday 26 May - Monday 5 June 2023 |
| The National Stadium Gym, 145 S Circular Rd, Saint Catherine's, Dublin, D08 HY40 |
| Opening hours: Monday - Sunday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm |
| Free, no booking required! |
| All ages welcome, children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult. |
| You can also join us for our family fun day on Monday 5 June, with art activities, boxing taster sessions and more! |
Accessibility
- The venue is wheelchair accessible
- Large print text is available
- A self-guided audio-described tour is available here
- Our social story is available to download below if you or someone you’re accompanying would like to understand what the exhibition experience will be like before arriving
- A sensory box with materials used in the creation of the work will be available to all visitors
- A quiet space will also be available in the venue
Get Involved! Family Activity Day | Monday 5 June, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
At our Family Fun Day on Monday 5 June, join us for a fun event mixing boxing and art! Meet Eve, Yasmin and Nicole, the three boxers who took part in Counterpunch.
They'll put you through your paces as you try out some boxing moves. Create your own work inspired by the exhibition with artist Ailbhe Barrett. Drop-in, all ages and abilities welcome.
We launched Counterpunch, with the Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Darcy Lonergan, and the Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD on Thursday 25 May. We welcomed the boxers into the space to see the final artwork for the first time. It was fantastic to see the culmination of their work and to see them take it all in.
Thank you so much to everyone who came and for the kind feedback we've received so far.
Sharon Kelly is a visual artist based in South Armagh and QSS Studios, Belfast.
Kelly’s practice takes the intersections between art, life, health and sport, and explores ideas of the synergy between mind and body. Her work encompasses a variety of media including drawing, installation, sculpture and moving image.
She has been the recipient of numerous awards and her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.
In her own words this project 'is particularly interesting because the whole world of boxing was completely unknown to me prior to the start of the project. So it's taking up a challenge which I like. I think for the club and the boxers it’s probably more of a curiosity thing and… in a way it’s like opening up a pathway of communication between two worlds which actually have quite a lot in common. So that whole thing interests me in terms of the parallels.'
Counterpunch is part of our Creative Residency in Art and Sport, a Creative Residency made by Dublin City Council Culture Company in partnership with the Dublin City Sport & Wellbeing Partnership. The Creative Residency programme creates partnerships to try out ideas, test new approaches and add to the cultural story of the city, encouraging makers and experts to pilot new partnerships with organisations.
Five artists were selected in 2021 to take part in this project and work with sports clubs, with its members and the wider club community. The selected artists are Chinedum Muotto who works in poetry, visual, performance and theatre; visual artist, facilitator and theatre maker Áine O’Hara; visual artist Sharon Kelly; actor, writer and theatre-maker Timmy Creed; and Karen Aguiar who works through dance and movement.
