Digital reefs and AR fashion: Niuean artist creates ’living archive’ in South Auckland

Niuean artist Katrina Iosia Sipeli (Liku, Mutalau) is turning the rugged reefs of her homeland into a digital blueprint.

As the inaugural 2025 Niue Artist in Residence, Sipeli spent seven weeks on the island using 3D modelling to archive landmarks that are physically impossible to move.

The result is Materiality of Time, an exhibition showing at Māngere Arts Centre | Ngā Tohu o Uenuku until 30 May.

The showcase features creative technology as both a tool and a material, proving that Pacific culture can be preserved and experienced in the digital age.

“It’s got a bit of physical sculpture,” Sipeli tells PMN Niue. “There’s augmented reality (AR) in there...it's to showcase the lineage of what we've done in the space. Most of it is about how we preserve our artefacts.”

The exhibition is a collaboration with Sipeli’s partner and digital artist Allen Vili (Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Saleimoa - Sāmoa).

'Materiality of Time' runs at the Māngere Arts Centre | Ngā Tohu o Uenuku Gallery from 18 April to 30 May. Photo/Facebook

Together, they explore how Pacific identity materialises across physical and digital environments, including Vili’s work on identity and the continuity of Matariki.

For Sipeli, 3D technology acts like a camera with infinite depth.

She explains that it offers a richer experience than traditional photography.

“That way when somebody gets to experience that, they get the whole 3D view of it. They’re getting more than just like a flat object,” she says.

A highlight for visitors to the exhibit is the AR "virtual try-on" experience. This allows people to see themselves on a screen "wearing" a digital sculpture.

The innovative concept previously earned Sipeli a nomination for an AR fashion design award in the United States in 2022.

Materiality of Time was born out of necessity. In Niue, where internet services can be unreliable, Sipeli had to be resourceful to capture the island’s landmarks.

She views the work as a “living archive”, using technology as a vessel to sustain cultural knowledge across generations.

Despite her success, Sipeli is largely self-taught. She developed her skills through curiosity and "tutorials on YouTube", while maintaining a strict focus on cultural ethics.

Katrina Iosia Sipeli in Mutalau during her artist residency in Niue. Photo/katrinaiosia.com

“I started out with a lot of artefacts that were from my own work before I started moving that into looking at scanning other artefacts,” Sipeli says, adding that the goal is “respecting the value of the work” while pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

The exhibition serves as a homecoming for the couple. Vili grew up in Māngere and Sipeli's family is from Ōtara, making the South Auckland venue a significant place to honour the community that shaped them.

“I'm very proud to be Pasifika, a woman working in creative technology as well,” Sipeli says.

By platforming this innovation, she hopes to inspire young Pacific creatives to claim these digital tools for themselves.

Her message to the next generation is simple: curiosity is the best teacher.

“Don’t be afraid to try new things,” she encourages. “The only way you're going to learn is if you ask.”

Visitors experiencing the "virtual try-on" AR scupltures at the exhibit opening on 18 April. Photo/Facebook

The exhibition is a key feature of TECHWEEK26, which begins on 18 May.

While the technology provides a new language for the artist, the underlying stories of Tangata Niue remain the heart of the work

Materiality of Time is showing at the Māngere Arts Centre | Ngā Tohu o Uenuku until 30 May. Entry is free.