Limen - 2024 UNISA honours graduation exhibition
*slick friction*

*slick friction* (detail), 2024 - PHOTO CREDIT: JAMES FIELD

*slick friction* (detail), 2024 - PHOTO CREDIT: JAMES FIELD

*slick friction* (detail), 2024 - PHOTO CREDIT: JAMES FIELD

*slick friction* (detail), 2024 - PHOTO CREDIT: JAMES FIELD

*slick friction* (detail), 2024 - PHOTO CREDIT: JAMES FIELD

*slick friction* (exhibition view), 2024 - PHOTO CREDIT: JAMES FIELD
*slick friction*, 2024, video projection, various wall-mounted objects, duration approx. 7.03 mins
*slick friction* dives deep into the concept of “ooze” - think gloop, gunk, and sludge - to express the artist's personal manifestation of fluidity and queer joy. Using embodied memory, Ariella’s experimental videos capture intuitive and stimulating movements in a material-led performance. Her work celebrates diverse and unique forms of self-expression, particularly focusing on themes of pleasure and joy. This celebration aims to not only empower herself but also other queer individuals who resonate with her message.
In her piece *slick friction*, the non-figurative, temporal, and abject materials represent experiences of joy that defy conventional boundaries. Ariella draws parallels between her identity and her concocted ooze: unstable, occasionally grotesque and with a desire to have an abundance of residue. Embracing the uncomfortable, *slick friction* invites viewers to engage with abject sensuality, mucus-covered surfaces, and slippery playfulness. Through this exploration, Ariella challenges us to reconsider our understanding of pleasure, inviting us into a world where unconventional expressions can flourish.