Words for Women

February 4th – March 26th, 2016

Gallery 151

New York, NY

“Arm candy, sugar tits, butterface – these are common words people casually throw around all the time. When dissected and taken literally, these words turn the female body into an object of consumption (sugar, butter, candy). What does this say about our attitude towards women?”

Gallery 151 is proud to present a selection of satirical photographs by Anna Friemoth. In her first New York solo exhibition, Anna unveils her latest series, Words for Women, and revisits her collection of candid self-portraits, 10 Commandments. Friemoth playfully re-examines these innate concepts by defying and challenging their validity. She portrays herself (and others) in each photograph as mischievous, lustful and devious – all through wry implications.

In Words for Women, Friemoth ridicules labels often reserved for women by extracting their literal context and mocking their absurdity. “Sugar Tits” depicts a model’s breasts caked in scrumptious frosting, “Trophy Wife” presents Friemoth as a gleaming statuette on a pedestal. When these words for women are visualized, they are a reflection on the contemporary society and its biases.

In a series of self-portraits, 10 Commandments provides a devilish interpretation on the Biblical laws by illustrating ways they can be broken — whether it’s absconding with a painting or removing a wedding ring. Each frame is highlighted by meticulously chosen elements – be it a rotisserie chicken, a dartboard or a rotary telephone – and Friemoth’s arresting gaze, which serves as an invitation to the other side.

In each series, Anna Friemoth absorbs the original context and then reformats it into a fresh, interpretive narrative. Words for Women conveys real confidence in the power of portraits, and builds on the premise that imposing a boundary on an idea or a person is a futile attempt.