Contemporary Māori artist Darcy Nicholas’ practice encompasses painting, printmaking and sculpture. He is a curator, writer, director and commentator on Māori issues. Nicholas’ use of colour is a prominent feature of his artistic practice. He suggests “colour is a universal form of communication, it’s colour that seduces you and pulls you into the textural quality of the painting and its subject”.

Hine Rangi (Daughter of the Heavens) is symbolic of life and constant changeability. She is a spirit who is the child of earth and sky. Nicholas states that Hinerangi is “another of my icon paintings. Like the Taranaki Woman [a previous work] her image has been promoted world-wide with prints and images in various articles”.

Darcy Nicholas (born 1945, Kahui Maunga, Te Atiawa, Ngāti Tangahoe, Tauranga Moana and Ngāti Haua) has been actively involved in the contemporary Māori art movement since the late 1960’s. He opened his own art gallery in Lower Hutt in 1975. In 1981, Nicholas became the director of the Wellington Arts Centre. In 1998, Nicholas led the development of Pataka Art + Museum. He stepped down from his dual roles as Director of Pataka, and Porirua City Council’s Community Services General Manager in 2012. He currently resides in Lower Hutt.