Mary MacDougall and Francis Plagne

Experience a special live performance by one of the artists in Near at Hand: Dobell Australian Drawing Biennial 2026 .

Exhibiting artist Mary MacDougall joins forces with Melbourne musician and songwriter Francis Plagne as part of their Early World project, playing tender pop music bent out of shape with strange harmonies and touches of absurdity.

This intimate and atmospheric performance will take place inside the exhibition, in front of MacDougall’s 350-piece installation of ceramic drawings.

As well as being a practising artist, MacDougall has released three records, two as part of Warm Currency via the London label Horn of Plenty (2022 and 2023) and another as The Bowles on Graham Lambkin’s Kye label in New York (2012).

Plagne teaches in the Art History and Curatorship program at the University of Melbourne and his music has been published by record labels in Australia, Belgium, Germany and the UK.

Wednesday 16 September 2026
7pm

Duration 30 minutes

Art Gallery of New South Wales

Naala Nura building

Lower level 2

Free, no bookings required