Two of Māoridom's great creatives recognised as living artistic icons

Writer Witi Ihimaera Smiler and artist Darcy Nicholas, two of Māoridom’s most prominent creative figures, have been recognised for their extraordinary contribution to the sector by the Arts Foundation, alongside glass sculptor Ann Robinson and musical duo The Topp Twins.

The Icon Award Whakamana Hiranga, the foundation’s highest honour, recognises its recipients as being a significant living artist in Aotearoa New Zealand. The award is bestowed to a ‘living circle’ of 20 creatives at any time and are physically symbolised by a bronze medallion set with pounamu which is gifted on to recipients.

The medallions that were passed forward to this year’s recipients once belonged to writer Maurice Gee, opera singer Sir Donald McIntyre, sculptor Greer Twiss, and artist Fred Graham.

“As these medallions pass from one artist to another, they carry with them whakapapa and profound mana. Honouring what have been given and entrusting those to a legacy who follow them,” said Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, who hosted the event at Government House in Wellington.

Ihimaera Smiler, who has recently returned to using the surname Smiler, said he was very proud of becoming one of “The Magnificent 20”. He said he was following in the footsteps of those of the living circle who came before.

“They were ngā maunga whakakite (visionaries). They were the maunga to which we all had wanted to aspire to when we were younger, and now we are that maunga. And what is our role? It is to continue to inspire mō ngā tamariki o āpōpō, mō te iwi e tatari ana i te pae – for those of the next generation who are waiting on the horizon.”

Ihimaera Smiler’s work spans five decades and he has published over 40 literary works including novels, short stories, and non-fiction.

He has also written for stage and screens with some of his stories adapted into film including Bulibasha: The King of the Gypsies which was titled Mahana and starred Temuera Morrison and Nancy Brunning. The most well-known of his works, The Whale Rider, was also made into a feature film starring Cliff Curtis, Rawiri Paratene and Keisha Castle-Hughes.

“I think that anybody's work is good work if it is wanting to do things in a humanitarian way, wanting to do things in a profound way for all peoples, especially to ensure that Māori have the opportunity to occupy an equitable space and equal space, and a space from which they can begin to show tino rangatiratanga,” he said.

Nicholas has been an artist for over six decades, but he said he’s been making art since he was a toddler scrawling on his cot with a crayon. He sold his first painting when he was nine for 30 shillings and has continued to produce art, even when his career path led him to becoming a police officer for a decade.

But making art was his calling, and he recalls in the 1960s a momentous occasion where his friend the late Buck Nin, another giant of the Māori contemporary art movement, stood in front of a room to address other fellow Māori artists.

“There were about 10 of us – there are only about two of us alive today, me and Sandy Adsett – and [Nin] said, we're going to steal all the best ideas in the world and create the contemporary Māori art movement. And that's what we did.”

A prolific producer of art, his works are highly sought after and have sold both here in Aotearoa and overseas. As part of the reopening of the Wellington City Library, he was commissioned to produce the piece Earth Mothers, a vibrantly coloured mural depicting three female figures in tribute to his mother, sisters and elders.

“I think we need to look at a whole range of things that evolve around my art and why I create art that recognises Papatuanuku as my mother and Ranginui as my father and all the stars as my ancestors guiding down on me. It's important that we have that universal approach to life because at some stage we have to find peace and develop a future for generations to come.”

Nicholas admits the impact of being considered an icon of the arts has yet to fully sink in.

“It's just suddenly coming [to the awards ceremony] and seeing all the people who I know, and the art people – so I guess I'll think more about it tomorrow.”

The pair’s work can also be seen in tandem in the 1980s Māori anthology book series Te Ao Mārama – edited by Ihimaera Smiler and cover art by Nicholas.

The four recipients join the likes of Tā Pita Sharples, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Dame Patricia Grace. A former member, the late actor Sir Sam Neill who tragically died this year from pneumonia after previously overcoming cancer, and Dame Jools Topp were both remembered on the night.