Land of My Ancestors 2007

This documentary portrait of Maori artist Darcy Nicholas gives us a glimpse into a very ordinary, yet extraordinary life. His work is held in public collections in New Zealand, Britain and Germany and he has exhibited widely over a long career. Born into a large family in the tightly knit Maori community of Waitara, his story is inseparably woven into his mountain, Taranaki, his family, his ancestors, his art and into the lives of other indigenous artists and friends. Lala Rolls’ gentle and moving documentary traces his inspiration from the times and politics of Parihaka through to his links with Native American artists, forged in his role as General Manager of the Pataka Museum in Porirua. Land of My Ancestors was produced for Maori Television and a special extended cut has been prepared for these Film Festival screenings. — Michael McDonnell

“My paintings are about identity, the ancestral lines that connect me with the universe. I want to paint the spiritual richness that speaks of the timeless culture that I know. I hope we never lose the multiplicity of our heritage.” — Darcy Nicholas