Since 2012 Aimée Ralfini has curated arts activation platform Art Ache.
Art Ache communicates fine art and creative thought to a wide and varied audience through events, social media, digital billboard campaigns, 100’s of radio podcasts, regular editorial art coverage and other bespoke activations. Through it Ralfini aims to strengthen New Zealand’s creative muscle and make art part of everyday conversation.
“Artists are the litmus paper of society” – AM Ralfini
Considered a ‘holy goddess of creative fecundity’ by her peers, Ralfini is credited with paving the way for New Zealand artists on social and in mainstream media, forging a path for a new wave of entry to medium level clientele after the 2009 financial crisis.
Born and bred in Auckland, Ralfini gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Elam School of Fine Arts in intermedia and has spent most of her adult life working at media networks, design studios and advertising agencies.
NZ DEAD AHEAD
nz_dead_ahead is Ralfini’s latest creative offering. Inspired by the interior design of deceased estates being sold in New Zealand.
Propelled by rising house prices with cheap upgrades, Aimee felt it was time to document the last of these outstanding monuments to a culture in rapid decline.
nz_dead_ahead presents like a view finder of a period of idealism and “quality living” in the nation’s history.
The collection of interior and exterior photographs are all for sale at the time of selection, with many of them containing elements that will resonate with anyone who grew up in 19th century New Zealand.
To jog memories and manifest her own, Aimee comments about the nature of the contents through several lenses; that of a realtor, a romantic novelist and an interior designer.
Ralfini works alongside sometimes collaborator Kate van der Fluit to capture as many of these quintessential relics as she can, and will continue to do so until they are no more.
