Niceaunties

Niceaunties, an art project by an architect-turned-AI artist from Singapore, reimagines a group of senior women who are breaking free from societal expectations. Through generative and digital art, Niceaunties delves into themes of aging, beauty, personal freedom, and the richness of everyday life. She crafts her vivid alternate realities by drawing from surrealism, fantasy, and Kawaii aesthetics. The works from Niceaunties celebrate the often charming and occasionally eccentric behaviors of aunties in Asian communities, reimagining their world as one where they can freely pursue their passions.

"Niceaunties is about creating a world where women feel free and empowered to be outrageous, joyful, and unrestrained.”

Scrolling through the world of Niceaunties is like sifting through a dreamscape, caught between the ordinary and the fantastical. The scenes present an unusual juxtaposition: senior women meditating in sequined outfits, cooking mysterious meals from ingredients that seemingly belong to an alternate universe, or embarking on intergalactic escapades. Despite the playful aesthetic, there's something hauntingly evocative about these images. As Niceaunties herself describes, "The more you look into the details, the more you start noticing something is slightly off, and you can't really put it into words – like trying to describe something you saw in a dream."

The concept of "auntie culture" plays a central role in Niceaunties’ work. In Southeast Asia, ‘auntie’ is a term loaded with layers of meaning, which often varies by context. On the one hand, aunties embody familial love, but this love is often tinged with sharp, unsolicited opinions. Beyond family, anyone – whether related or not – can be called an auntie, often serving as shorthand for someone perceived as old-fashioned, rigid, or overly critical. In her work, Niceaunties reclaims and reinvents this term, presenting these women not as symbols of rigid social expectations but as vibrant, empowered figures, free to pursue joy without the limitations of societal judgment.