Darcy’s donated painting tells of ancient history
Ma¯ ori artist Darcy Nicholas will have to paint a new work for a British buyer after donating an earmarked piece to his former high school.
More than fifty years after leaving Waitara High School, the world-famous artist returned on Wednesday with one of his highly-prized paintings in tow.
‘‘It really belongs here in Waitara High School,’’ he said at a special assembly.
‘‘It tells the story of the people here. It’s a special painting for me.
‘‘That’s why I had to give it to the school, because it tells the ancient history of these tribes here.
‘‘A lot of the history of Māoridom begins with the arrival of the seven canoes.
‘‘But there were people here before that and they lived on that mountain.’’
Nicholas, who attended the school from 1959-62, said he’d now paint another picture for his overseas buyer.
Nicholas has held exhibitions all over the world and said he hoped the painting, which represents Te A¯ tiawa, would inspire ‘‘not so much artists but innovative thinkers’’.
He told the assembly that at his first exhibition of 35 paintings, an American man looked in the window and asked to come in and have a look.
‘‘He bought the entire exhibition before I had the opening,’’ he said.
Principal Darryl Warburton said it was a nice surprise to receive the painting.
‘‘I wanted to create a hall of heroes,’’ he said. ‘‘I wanted to highlight some past students that could be inspirational for our kids.’’
He said they had a lot of sporting achievement but he also wanted to celebrate success in other fields, including art.
‘‘I don’t want to do just a plaque on the wall kind of thing. It’s a bit boring.’’