Auntiedote: Auntique Institute Is Hairing (Hiring)

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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 story unveils the enigmatic Auntique Institute, a distant location in the galaxy where aunties intricately weave tales spanning past, present, and future into hair strands. Narrated from the viewpoint of slightly exasperated employees, the assistants of the aunties issue a recruitment call for additional support, as the aunties, absorbed in their meditative states, have delegated all tasks to them. The narrative later transitions to showcasing the aunties within a vast and mystical complex of waterways and hair, deeply engaged in the art of archival weaving. This piece creatively explores the genesis of the Auntique chapter within the AUNTIEVERSE, drawing inspiration from the concept of the Akashic Records, a legendary compendium said to hold all universal knowledge across time.