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Māori Arts Icons Honored with Legacy Medallions | Auckland News
Witi Ihimaera Smiler and Darcy Nicholas, two titans of Māori arts, have been honored with New Zealand’s highest living artist award — the Icon Award Whakamana Hiranga — joining a rare group of twenty legends. Each recipient receives a sacred bronze medallion, passed down through generations as a symbol of artistic legacy, once held by icons like Maurice Gee and Sir Donald McIntyre. Smiler, whose acclaimed work “Whale Rider” shaped global perceptions, sees himself as a mountain for emerging artists to climb, while Nicholas, with over six decades of artistry, reflects on how creativity connects…
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