Niceaunties is a Singaporean artist and the creator of Auntieverse, an NFT series that celebrates women who play influential non-maternal roles in society and family.
These women are affectionately known as 'aunties' in many cultures, and they are known for providing valuable advice to younger generations. However, in many cultures, the title 'auntie' can sometimes be accompanied by unnecessary criticism or negative feedback regarding one's career choices, marital status, or reproductive decisions.
Auntie culture holds an important place in East Asia, where older women are often seen as both cultured and critical figures in society.
However, in the 1,000 NFT series released in January 2024, Niceaunties subverts any preconceived notions you might have about the women who raised us, instead depicting aunties as whimsical, ethereal, and even comical figures.
The imaginary world of the aunties is absurd and all-encompassing, as only a spa made of sushi rolls can achieve.
Niceaunties draws creative inspiration from her own upbringing
The creator of Niceaunties is not a full name, we do not know her full name, but she shared in her TED talk in Vancouver that the series was inspired by her upbringing in Singapore.
The creator of Niceaunties was influenced by many outstanding women, including her mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and her own 11 aunts.
Niceaunties, while working as an architect, came into contact with AI technology in 2022. She first discovered Midjourney, a popular text-to-image AI program. Other artists using AI text-to-image include artists like ClownVamp and Claire Silver.
Niceaunties was immediately inspired to create images and videos showcasing the strong women in her upbringing and celebrating the entire 'auntie culture.' Her work often explores themes of freedom, contrasting traditional social expectations with the liberation and self-expression of older women.
As stated in the bio on her website:
"Niceauntie's life experiences and architectural training form the structural and conceptual basis of her work, while her attention to the subtle behaviors of 'Aunties' elucidates the culture prevalent in Asian communities. Influenced by surrealism, fantasy, and kawaii culture, Niceauntie's art advocates empowerment and self-expression."
It's clear that her whimsical, playful approach brings a sense of fun to Niceaunties' art, allowing viewers to appreciate the imaginative and humorous depictions of women in her scenes.
Redefining Auntie Culture
Niceaunties' art project is a bold reimagining of auntie culture, transforming it into a memorable symbol of self-expression. Using artificial intelligence, the artist has created a surreal world where aunties can live freely, unburdened by social judgment. They are free to be - with quirks, talents, dreams, and everything.
In Singapore, where Niceaunties is based, auntie culture is described as an 'intangible cultural heritage' that is both revered and often stereotyped, however, Niceaunties offers a novel, entertaining and thought-provoking perspective.
Her art project explores the intersection of AI art and auntie culture, offering us a new narrative that elevates the personalities of aunties. She challenges social norms and expectations, portraying aunties as multifaceted individuals with rich inner worlds and boundless creativity.
The power of AI art
As artists today have discovered, AI art offers new ways to create and explore visual narratives, and Niceaunties has fully exploited the potential of these tools.
Using programs like Midjourney, she experimented with various styles, colors, and textures to create artwork that is both imaginative and personal. Her use of AI adds a futuristic feel to her designs while maintaining a playful nostalgia.
For Niceaunties, AI offers a practical way for her to turn ideas into reality. It allows her to quickly test concepts and refine visuals, making her work more dynamic and accessible.
Niceaunties' NFT career fits perfectly with her architecture career
It's no surprise that this NFT artist, who designed an entire fictional universe for 'Aunties,' has an architectural background. Niceaunties has a 20-year career as an architectural designer and has been balancing her day job and art creation since rising to fame as an NFT artist in 2023.
Her creative process is driven by rapidly evolving ideas, which are refined and enhanced through the use of AI technology.
She used her skills as a visual artist to bring this series of 1,000 NFTs to life, dividing them into ten chapters: Authenticity, Spa Menu, Factory, Auntie, Auntie Association, Fashion, Tesla, IKEA, Museum of Modern Art in New York, and NASA.
While each chapter sounds like familiar words, place names, or household brand names, they are actually all whimsical abbreviations.
Niceaunties stated that she directly borrowed from Singaporeans' love of abbreviations and adopted this naming convention, for example, 'Tesla' stands for 'Tofu Sushi Luxury Automobile'. The NFTs in this chapter depict kind aunties wearing hairnets, driving sushi cars, and working in Tesla-like factories.
In one of the early chapters of the series, Chapter Two, 'Spa Menu', Niceaunties explores 'themes surrounding beauty, skin, and youth'. The NFTs in this series juxtapose the smiles of aunties as they undergo tedious beauty treatments.
The NFT description for this chapter is as follows: Their faces also depict miniature construction workers and machines working busily, images that symbolize the discomfort and effort women endure to conform to societal standards of youth and beauty.
Niceaunties' AI-created artwork focuses on women in imaginary worlds, subverting concepts of beauty, belonging, and aging. Niceaunties' 'Auntiverse' thus places the important women in our lives in a brighter spotlight.
Impact and Significance
An auntie is not necessarily someone's biological aunt; she refers to women (usually older women) who play important roles in society and family.
Niceaunties' art project challenges our perception of 'auntie culture' and showcases the possibilities of AI-created art. Her work has received attention in exhibitions such as HOFA's 'AI Art Pioneers' in London and has earned praise from art critics and collectors for its creativity and social commentary.
But its impact extends far beyond the exhibition itself: Singaporean artist 'Niceaunties' provides a space for these women to feel seen and valued by reimagining and celebrating the role of aunties. These artworks highlight their personality, humor, and wisdom, encouraging people to appreciate the contributions of older women to society more deeply.
Through her work, she sparks discussions about representation and inclusion, redefining how we view these influential figures in our lives.
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