Bea Fremderman at Chris Andrews

Artist: Bea Fremderman

Exhibition title: Cul-de-sac

Venue: Chris Andrews, Montréal, Canada

Date: February 10 — March 16, 2024

Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and Chris Andrews, Montréal

Chris Andrews is pleased to announce Cul-de-sac, Bea Fremderman’s first solo exhibition with the gallery.

Sixteen tins line the gallery’s perimeter; originally used to package fish or chicken products, they now house pithy assemblages. Fremderman discards the tin’s edible innards in favour of fragmented garments, accessories, and notions, resembling homespun character portraits. They tote the efficient beauty of the assembly line, recalling an era of low-price, pre-designed single-family homes—signalling suburban sprawl and the rise of office work. Aggregating around an intersection at once carnivorous and corporate, she points towards an exterior—a professionalism—and an interior—what is ingested.

What we eat is eventually absorbed or discarded. Plastics broken down from packaging and synthetic fibres of fast fashion garments are now found in the fish, meat, salt or vegetables ingested by the body. They unite us all in a similar (ill) fate, a tragic-comedy played in unison by a food pyramid. Before widespread adoption of factory farming, the 19th century pioneered rose-tinted glasses for chicken (subsequently mass produced). Cannibalistic at the appearance of blood, seeing the world already steeped in hues of red was meant to diminish the chicken’s urge for neighbourly consumption. One must not upset the food chain—you have to wear the uniform to work.

Bea Fremderman, Cul-de-sac, 2024, exhibition view, Chris Andrews, Montréal

Bea Fremderman, Miss, 2024, Green silk blouse, green skirt, gold necklace, tin can. 4 1/2 x 6 x 2 inches

Bea Fremderman, Slacks, 2024, Wool pants, leather brown belt, tin can. 4 1/2 x 6 x 2 inches

Bea Fremderman, Mr., 2024, Grey slacks, blue striped tie with four leaf clover tie clip, white collared shirt, tin can, 4 1/2 x 6 x 2 inches

Bea Fremderman, Boss Man, 2024, Red tie, lilac button up shirt, tin can. 4.5 x 6 x 2 inches

Bea Fremderman, T-Bone, 2024, Necktie, wishbone pin, polyester blend pants, cotton undershirt, tin can, 4 x 4 x 3 inches

Bea Fremderman, Lazy Man, 2024, Ribbed tank top, blue button-up shirt, tin can. 4 1/2 x 6 x 2 inches

Bea Fremderman, Stuffy, 2024, Navy blazer, metal button, tin can, 4 x 4 x 3 inches

Bea Fremderman, Mani, Pedi, 2024, Silk blouse, mother of pearl button, knit sweater, polyester skirt, tin can, 4 x 4 x 3 inches

Bea Fremderman, Underbite/Overbite, 2024, Polyester slip, wool skirt, white polyesters blouse, tin can, 4 x 4 1/2 x 3 inches

Bea Fremderman, Pressed, 2024, White button-up shirt, tin can, 4 1/2 x 6 x 2 inches

Bea Fremderman, Blank Collar, 2024, White sock, jeans, shoelace, tin can, 4 1/2 x 6 x 2 inches

Bea Fremderman, Tissue Box, 2024, Silk polka dot blouse, wool blazer, buttons, tin can, 4 x 4 x 3 inches

Bea Fremderman, Oyster, 2024, Nylons, shoulder pad, white blouse with button, elastic, tin can, 4 x 4 1/2 x inches

Bea Fremderman, Gambler, 2024, White pinstriped suit, white buttons, tin can, 4 x 4 x 3 inches

Bea Fremderman, Work Wife, 2024, Pin-stripe skirt, bra, silk blouse, tin can. 4 1/2 x 6 x 2 inches

Bea Fremderman, Untitled, 2024, Angel punched penny, 3/4 x 3/4 inch