Indigenous Aotearoa: Virtual Histories, Augmented Futures
In December 2017, the Urban Shaman Aboriginal Art Gallery in Winnipeg hosted an extraordinary exhibition that brought together the works of New Zealand Māori artists exploring the intersection of traditional art forms and digital environments. Titled "Indigenous Aotearoa: Virtual Histories, Augmented Futures," this groundbreaking exhibition showcased the innovative and thought-provoking creations of Reweti Arapere, Hana Rakena, Rachael Rakena, Kereama Taepa, Suzanne Tamaki, Johnson Witehira, and Rangituhia Hollis.
For these artists, the digital realm was not merely a tool for artistic expression; it became a dynamic space where their ancestral stories, cultural heritage, and contemporary experiences converged. Drawing inspiration from their Māori roots, they seamlessly integrated traditional motifs, symbolism, and narratives into immersive digital landscapes, challenging the boundaries of traditional artistic practices.
This exhibition marked a significant moment in the evolution of indigenous art, where the rich tapestry of Māori culture encountered cutting-edge technology. It demonstrated that the digital realm could be a conduit for ancestral knowledge, allowing it to be reimagined and reinterpreted for future generations. Through augmented reality, the artists engaged viewers in a dialogue between the past and the present, inviting them to explore the interconnectedness of indigenous histories and potential futures.
Five years have passed since this groundbreaking exhibition, and iSPARX™, the platform at the forefront of augmented imagination, continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of indigenous art. As the digital landscape evolves, new generations of artists are poised to explore uncharted territories, weaving together the threads of tradition and innovation to create immersive experiences that celebrate and honor indigenous cultures around the world.
INDIGINOUS - URBAN SHAMAN ABORIGINAL ART GALLERY, WINNIPEG / DECEMBER 1, 2017
NEW ZEALAND MĀORI ARTISTS WORKING WITHIN DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS
01 DECEMBER 2017 – 20 JANUARY 2018
OPENING RECEPTION: DECEMBER 01, 2017 FROM 8PM TO 11PM
WHERE: URBAN SHAMAN ABORIGINAL ART GALLERY, 203-290 MCDERMOT AVE. WINNIPEG, MB
ARTISTS: REWETI ARAPERE, HANA RAKENA, RACHAEL RAKENA, KEREAMA TAEPA, SUZANNE TAMAKI, JOHNSON WITEHIRA, RANGITUHIA HOLLIS
Virtual histories are a form of fictional writing that apply a ‘what if’ scenario to history. For example, ‘what if Christopher Columbus did not discover the Americas’, or ‘what if Able Tasman did not discover New Zealand’? Of course neither Columbus nor Tasman were responsible for discovering either of those lands, and the artists in this exhibition explore this idea of ‘virtual histories’ in relation to these types of so called ‘true histories’.
The artworks in this exhibition are made by seven Māori artists from Aotearoa New Zealand who use digital media to create real and virtual spaces for Indigenous knowledge. The exhibition includes a range of media from virtual reality and augmented reality artworks, through to video games, projection installation and 3D printing. Each artwork critiques dominate histories and perceptions of Indigenous peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand, and postulates on how different the world might be for Indigenous peoples in the future.
Exhibition curator Reuben Friend says, “the exhibition includes some of the leading figures currently working in Māori digital art and is a major chance to review how Māori digital media has advanced over the past ten years”."Indigenous Aotearoa: Virtual Histories, Augmented Futures" explored the rich cultural heritage and future possibilities of Indigenous peoples in Aotearoa, also known as New Zealand. The project merged the realms of augmented reality (AR) and art to create immersive experiences that challenged traditional narratives and empowered Indigenous voices.
The project aimed to address the historical marginalization and colonization of Indigenous peoples in Aotearoa by reclaiming their stories, knowledge, and perspectives. It utilised cutting-edge technologies to create interactive installations, virtual environments, and multimedia artworks that engaged audiences and prompted critical dialogue around Indigenous rights, cultural preservation, and decolonisation.
"Virtual Histories" referred to the exploration and reinterpretation of Indigenous history through immersive virtual experiences. By leveraging AR technology, participants could virtually step into significant historical events, ancient landscapes, or traditional cultural practices, gaining a deeper understanding of the Indigenous narrative. These virtual reconstructions offered an alternative lens through which to view the past, challenging dominant narratives and highlighting the resilience and contributions of Indigenous communities.
PUKANA WHAKARUNGA! PUKANA WHAKARARO!
ART : Augmented Reality Taonga
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa with The Lost Boys
INDIGINOUS - URBAN SHAMAN ABORIGINAL ART GALLERY, WINNIPEG / DECEMBER 1, 2017 NEW ZEALAND MĀORI ARTISTS WORKING WITHIN DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS 01 DECEMBER 2017 – 20 JANUARY 2018
On the other hand, "Augmented Futures" referred to the envisioning of possible futures for Indigenous peoples. Using AR, the project overlaid digital elements onto the real world, providing glimpses into alternative realities where Indigenous cultures were revitalized, honored, and integrated into contemporary society. These augmented experiences might have involved interactive storytelling, public art interventions, or community engagement initiatives that promoted Indigenous agency and fostered cultural sustainability.
The term "artivist" combined the words "artist" and "activist" to describe individuals or groups who used art as a means of promoting social and political change. In the context of "Indigenous Aotearoa: Virtual Histories, Augmented Futures," the artivist approach sought to challenge power structures, advocate for Indigenous rights, and create spaces for Indigenous voices to be heard.
Overall, this project represented a creative and innovative intersection of technology, art, and activism, aiming to raise awareness, challenge perspectives, and foster dialogue around Indigenous issues in Aotearoa. By leveraging virtual and augmented realities, it provided a unique platform for storytelling, cultural revitalisation, and envisioning a more inclusive future.
InDigiNous Aotearoa: Virtual Histories, Augmented Futures
InDigiNous Aotearoa: Virtual Histories, Augmented Futures
Rachael Rakena (Artist)
Johnson Witehira (Artist)
Kereama Taepa (Artist)
Daina Warren (Dir., Urban Shaman)
Reuben Friend (Panel Chair, Dir., Pataka Gallery)
Symposium on the Future Imaginary
28 November - 2 December 2018
Winnipeg Art Gallery
The Winnipeg Symposium on the Future Imaginary was the third in a series of public gatherings to talk about how Indigenous people might envision our future. The Symposium was sponsored by the Initiative for Indigenous Futures Partnership, organized by IIF co-investigator Julie Nagam, and hosted by the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
Produced by the Initiative for Indigenous Futures in collaboration with the Aboriginal Territories in Cyberspace (AbTeC) research network. http://indigenousfutures.net/.