Four photographs of a female subject dressed in the syle of and performing traditional gender roles.

Newtown High School of Performing Arts

The Ladies’ Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness

Photomedia

Digital print

My body of work explores the way in which women are often taught to adhere to certain societal rules and gender stereotypes. The work represents traditional and outdated gender roles of women as picture-perfect housewives, hostesses and mothers. These stylised, exaggerated images are coupled with narratives that echo the submissive attitudes and language of female etiquette handbooks. The book which accompanies the large digital prints again mimics vintage etiquette manuals, exhibiting the raw and untold story of a generation of women hidden by a facade of pink perfection.

An artistic orange brushstroke design forms abstract shapes on a white background. Overlaid on the design is the word "artexpress" in a sleek, modern black font. The orange brush strokes appear dynamic and free-flowing, with splatters and tapered ends.Simplified waratah flower in deep red colour with the words NSW Government in dark blue stacked underneath.

ARTEXPRESS was a joint partnership between The New South Wales Department of Education and NSW Education Standards Authority  in association with Hazelhurst Arts Centre.

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