How I Got Here
Video, 2023
About the artwork
Set in a public bathroom, a creature from outer space had arrived by accident. The creature was desperate to return home and searched frantically for the right portal, opening doors only to find they led nowhere. Feeling stuck and helpless, the creature encountered unkind humans, forcing it to hide and shapeshift to protect itself. Just as all hope seemed lost, strange sounds emanated from an exit door. No humans appeared in the bathroom scenes, represented only by the screams they made when they encountered the creature. This is a tale of misfortune with some levity. “How I Got Here” was made for Gen48, a 48 hour AI competition organised by Runwayml. There was no theme set for the competition, except for the submission requirement of selecting one character, one scene and one object from a given brief. This AI film was made in Midjourney and Runwaylml.
Sound design by Niceaunties
Audio explanation
Listen to Niceaunties discuss this work.
Niceaunties is a contemporary artist and designer based in Singapore. Drawing inspiration from the influential women in her family and the distinct 'auntie culture,' her work explores themes of ageing, beauty, personal freedom, and everyday life through AI and digital art. Her life experiences and architectural training inform the conceptual basis of her pieces, while her focus on the nuanced behaviours of 'aunties' highlights the culture prevalent in Asian communities.
These women, embodying a spectrum from strange and funny to mean and kind, profoundly influenced the artist's early life and creative narrative, laying the foundation for the unique storytelling of "Niceaunties." Exploring themes like aging, beauty, personal freedom, and the nuances of everyday life, Niceaunties expresses her vision through the mediums of generative and digital art. Her creations are marked by an amalgamation of surrealism, fantasy, and the vibrant aesthetics of kawaii culture.
Influenced by surreal art, fantasy, and kawaii culture, Niceaunties' art champions empowerment and self-expression.