Lim Wenhui: A Soft Rebellion in Art
Lim Wenhui is a Singaporean artist, designer, and architect who is reimagining “auntie culture” through the lens of artificial intelligence and NFT technology, challenging contemporary perceptions of the elderly.
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Born during Singapore's major state-building era in the 1980s, Lim was mostly raised by her grandmothers and aunts due to her parents' demanding work schedules. This close interaction with the older generation, their guidance, and the chance to observe their interests and talents deeply influenced her perspective.
However, her childhood wasn't entirely carefree. Wenhui grew up under strict discipline, seemingly set on a path to success from birth. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree in architecture from the National University of Singapore and began building a professional career.
Although Wenhui was interested in art from a young age, she only started pursuing it seriously in early 2023 after discovering AI-generated images on Instagram. Inspired, she subscribed to the Midjourney app and began experimenting, entering competitions, and sharing her vision with others.
Wenhui draws inspiration from her relatives who embody “auntie culture”—a term describing the social phenomena and stereotypes associated with older women, including family values, culinary skills, extensive social networks, deep religiosity, and adherence to traditions. While modern generations often view these concepts skeptically, Wenhui aims to highlight a different perspective and reinterpret them in her project, Niceaunties.
Her style blends surrealism, fantasy, and kawaii (an emphasis on cuteness). Her work touches on themes of aging, beauty, and everyday life, with a focus on Asian culture. She informally refers to Niceaunties as a “soft rebellion” against established social norms, advocating for free self-expression.
The sentiment of ‘soft rebellion' is a persistent underlying tone in my work, reflecting my life journey and my response to the exhaustion from adhering to rules and structures imposed by others,
Wenhui notes.
Initially, the project was conceived as a fictional “club for aunties,” but it evolved into a genuine alternative universe where they relax, enjoy themselves, and engage in their hobbies, including group activities. Each piece offers a unique view of auntie behavior, which can be charming, absurd, or even negative. According to the artist, this diversity is permissible in art, as there are no strict rules.
Wenhui always starts with a conceptual idea and then uses AI tools like Midjourney or DALL-E 3 to bring it to life. Achieving the desired outcome often requires generating hundreds of variations, leading to unexpected transformations. Since the project's inception, she has created over 40,000 images, many of which remain unpublished. Some works are animated using other AI models (RunwayML, PikaLabs).
Her work has been showcased at prestigious global creative events such as Art Basel, Untitled Gallery, and an exhibition in Times Square, as well as in popular media outlets like Forbes and Business Times. She was introduced to blockchain by Alejandro Cartagena, the founder of Fellowship, a platform that helps photographers and artists embrace NFT technology.
Her first and only digital collection to date is Auntieverse, featuring images from Niceaunties, including very early works. It is divided into several chapters, each represented by a unique NFT trait (Tesla, Factory, Ikea, and more), reflecting specific themes such as fashion, beauty, and social challenges. Additionally, each piece in the collection has its own story within the Niceaunties universe.
Auntieverse Collection. Source: Official OpenSea website.
Auntieverse comprises 1,000 unique NFTs, with a portion (100 pieces) minted via English auctions (highest bidder wins) and the rest through Dutch auctions (price decreases until someone buys). Token holders can order printed versions of the artworks at cost price. At the time of writing, the minimum price for one Auntieverse NFT is 1.05 ETH (approximately $4,000), with a 5% royalty fee.
Wenhui believes that artificial intelligence opens up new possibilities for creative self-expression and should not be feared or banned. She advises aspiring AI artists to find a mentor, experiment extensively, and develop a distinctive concept and style that stands out.
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