Artists

«And as I finally start to listen, this body shifts», the voices whisper in your ear. Nora Aliena Friedlin (they/she) conceives of the body as permeable: as a site of transformation, resistance and connection. Noras walk-in installations blur the boundaries between bodies, materials and perceptions.

In the video installation IF THEY’D CUT US OPEN OUR INSIDES WOULD BE BLUE, water becomes a metaphor for the fluidity of bodies, cycles and interconnectedness. A poem, inspired by Astrida Neimanis’ concept of hydrofeminism, forms the basis of the voice-over. Four voices narrate fluid narratives out of sync, whilst genderless bodies flow into one another behind a layer of latex. Latex becomes a second skin – a threshold between bodies, inside and outside, the individual and the collective. How can bodies converge in resistance to collectively overcome overwhelming pressure and paralysis?

How important is the physical aspect in the experience with of your work?
The body—particularly the human, female-socialised, queer body, its experiences and perceptions—is central to my artistic practice. By working across different sensory registers, I seek to give the themes I explore a physical dimension, engaging at least two of the viewer’s senses in each work. In this piece, listening—which is central to my artistic practice—is accompanied by looking, touching and smelling. The latex has both a distinct texture and a strong, characteristic odour. The viewers’ bodies become part of the work as they must first move through the latex in order to reach the video. At the same time, every touch leaves a mark, contributing to the material’s visible ageing. By activating multiple senses, the work creates a holistic experience in which the themes I explore can be encountered not only intellectually, but also physically.