A Tender Disco — Plaything Playhouse observes and mocks the inveterate feminine daily performance of complying with social conduct. This ritualistic routine often functions under the veil of etiquette and habit, almost a communion to the gods of social convention. Frances considers this as mimicking a dance routine or a puppet performing. There’s a reason why the viral TikTok trend of ‘to be a woman is to perform’ has taken off. Elements of this performance can serve us and satisfy our identity, other elements can feel directed by an omnipotent social force greater than us.
This exhibition references the later collage work of Henri Matisse and his heavily reproduced and revered body of work, which observes paid female muses in an act of posed performance.
In Frances’ work, she subverts this dynamic and often places herself in the role of ‘observed muse’. She references herself, her partner and her friends mimicking acts of daily pantomime — of partnered performance, self-monitoring and introspection — the disco of our social roles.
Materially, Frances treats her figures like dolls by cutting and pasting figures contained within paper sets. She has also reproduced these snapshots of paper dolls in paper sets within brightly rendered paintings — a still of a plaything in her playhouse. The doll's partner may make an appearance, or she may be looking at herself in the mirror or consciously being observed.
A Tender Disco — Plaything Playhouse is ultimately an observation of the elements of feminine performance that can either feel tender and personal or counterfeit and confused.
Colourful Collage Workshop with Frances Edwina Powell
Join Frances for a Colourful Collage Workshop at Side Gallery on Saturday, 18 November.
Create vibrant cut-and-paste artworks inspired by Frances’ collage practice and learn how to approach collage — the art of overlapping pieces of material to create a unique composition. Frances will run through a series of activities to guide you in creating a small collection of your very own collages using artist-quality materials.
Snack on chips, sip on some wine and enjoy a Saturday afternoon of colourful making. Limited tickets are available. Book here!
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Plaything-playhouse.png)
Plaything playhouse 2023
Oil paint and pencil on archival paper
59.4 x 42 cm
$895 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Ribbons-and-twirls_-hyper-today.png)
Ribbons and twirls! (hyper today) 2023
Oil paint and pencil on archival paper
59.4 x 42 cm
$895 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Disco-tits-collage.png)
Disco tits (collage) 2023
Oil paint and pencil on archival paper
59.4 x 42 cm
$895 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Running-from-the-dressing-room-back-to-bed.png)
Running from the dressing room (back to bed) 2023
Oil paint and pencil on archival paper
59.4 x 42 cm
$895 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Flashing-lights-yay.png)
Flashing lights, yay! 2023
Oil paint and pencil on archival paper
42 x 30 cm
$595 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Disco-tits.png)
Disco tits 2023
Oil paint and pencil on archival paper
42 x 30 cm
$595 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Modest-performance.png)
Modest performance 2023
Oil paint and pencil on archival paper
42 x 30 cm
$595 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Getting-ready-to-go-does-it-still-fit.png)
Getting ready to go (does it still fit?) 2023
Oil paint and pencil on archival paper
42 x 30 cm
$595 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/You’re-my-spirit-person.png)
You’re my spirit person 2023
Oil paint and pencil on archival paper
42 x 30 cm
$595 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/It’s-certainly-working-today.png)
It’s certainly working today 2023
Oil paint and pencil on archival paper
42 x 30 cm
$595 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Dazzle-divert-sparkle-twirl.png)
Dazzle, divert, sparkle, twirl 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Under-lights-sore-feet-tomorrow.png)
Under lights, sore feet tomorrow 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Upright-uptight.png)
Upright uptight 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Disco-tits-study.png)
Disco tits (study) 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/I’m-so-happy-to-be-here-sigh.png)
I’m so happy to be here (sigh) 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Watch-my-dance-routine.png)
Watch my dance routine 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Morning.jpg)
Morning 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Moving-shapes.jpg)
Moving shapes 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/To-be-woman-is-to-perform.png)
To be woman is to perform 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Tarty-puppets.png)
Tarty puppets 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/All-warmed-up.png)
All warmed up
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Facsimile.png)
Facsimile 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Elephant-feet-stomp-stomp.png)
Elephant feet (stomp stomp)
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Can-I-tell-you-about-my-violent-dream-last-night.png)
Can I tell you about my violent dream last night? 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Bunny-ears-up-extra-cute.png)
Bunny ears up (extra cute) 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Daily-decorum-so-lovely.png)
Daily decorum, so lovely 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/I’m-softer-today-than-yesterday.png)
I’m softer today than yesterday 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Plaything-Playhouse-study.png)
Plaything Playhouse (study) 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Serving-slaying-ugh.png)
Serving, slaying, ugh 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Taller-than-my-backdrop.png)
Taller than my backdrop 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Well-that’s-not-my-mirror.png)
Well that’s not my mirror 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Is-this-my-dollhouse.png)
Is this my dollhouse? 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Behold_hold.png)
Behold/hold 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/You’re-my-spirit-person-study.png)
You’re my spirit person (study) 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/It’s-serving-up-nothing.png)
It’s serving up nothing 2023
Pigmented ink and pencil on archival paper
21 x 15 cm
$270 Framed
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/a-tender-disco-plaything-playhouse/Tender-Disco-—-Print-_-Prose.png)
Tender Disco — Print Prose 2023
Limited edition lino print (hand printed) on archival paper & prose on paper
Limited Edition of 45
25 x 17 cm
$45