Auntiedote: Auntique Hair Spray

Born in the 1980s, during the nation-building years of Singapore, the artist behind Niceaunties experienced a childhood shaped by the influential women in their family. From infancy to the age of nine, they lived with grandparents, aunties, and uncles while their parents worked. This upbringing was heavily influenced by the women of the household, as cultural norms dictated their primary role in childcare. Their early life was marked by the presence of remarkable women, including a great-grandmother who had experienced bound feet, a grandmother who transitioned from a life dedicated to kitchen duties to two decades of bedridden existence, and a sociable mother, along with eleven aunties. These women, embodying a spectrum of suppressed talents, passions, and dreams, were a mix of strange, funny, mean, and kind personalities, fueling the narrative of Niceaunties.

The exhibition AUNTIEDOTE builds on the AUNTIEVERSE series, spotlighting auntie culture's unique take on beauty and fashion. The videos offer a glimpse into the day-to-day life within the AUNTIEVERSE, highlighting the endearing and quirky behaviors that define auntie culture. From their distinctive approach to fashion to their unconventional beauty hacks, these narratives celebrate the individuality and influence of aunties. The accompanying prints encapsulate these themes, providing a static reflection of the dynamic world of aunties.

AUNTIEDOTE is an invitation to explore and appreciate the rich tapestry of auntie culture, with all its charm and eccentricity, and its impact on the broader spheres of beauty and fashion.

This video peels back the curtain on the secret to the Auntique aunties' impressively large sculptural hairdos: the miraculous Auntique Hair Spray! Styled as an advertisement, the video showcases the key attributes of this widely beloved product: its pleasant fragrance, its ability to maintain any hairstyle for extended periods (jokingly suggesting durability possibly till the grave), and its controversial history of animal testing. Auntique Hair Spray is unveiled as a glimpse into the Auntique world, a monochromatic universe that forms one of the ten chapters of the AUNTIEVERSE, a world-building project by Niceaunties.