To create an article based on the provided guidelines, I will follow these steps:

1. Start with a strong introduction to provide context for the article.
2. Use proper `

` tags for section headings to break up the content into logical sections.
3. Organize the content into clear and concise paragraphs that maintain a journalistic tone.
4. Keep all quotes and attributions accurate and attributed correctly.
5. Ensure that the article follows a logical flow of ideas and concepts.

Here is the article based on the provided guidelines:

**A Comprehensive History of Māori Art**

Māori art is a rich and diverse reflection of the culture, traditions, and history of New Zealand’s indigenous people. From ancient carvings to contemporary fashion, Māori art has played a significant role in shaping the country’s identity. However, understanding the complex and often fraught history of Māori art requires a nuanced approach.

**The Basket of Light: Customary Māori Art**

Professor Deidre Brown, a professor of architecture at the University of Auckland, explains that the basket of light, te kete-tuatea, is “customary Māori art.” This concept encompasses traditional practices and customs, including waka construction, textiles, whakairo rākau (wood carving), and rock art. According to Brown, this basket represents the foundation of Māori art, which continues to be practiced today.

“We’re not just looking at the past,” Brown says. “We’re reflecting on who is practicing now. Our readers need to understand that there are customs of art that continued and traditions of art that continued.”

**The Basket of Darkness: The Impact of European Culture**

The basket of darkness, te kete-tuauri, represents the impact of European culture on Māori art. This includes the introduction of new materials, ideas, and challenges, such as taonga Māori in museums, the impact of Christianity on Māori art, and the role of art in survival during times of hardship.

According to Brown, this basket also encompasses the concept of utu (forms of exchange), tuku (gift-giving), and koha (acts of kindness). These customs played a significant role in maintaining cultural practices and traditions.

**The Basket of Pursuit: Contemporary Māori Art**

The basket of pursuit, te kete-aronui, represents contemporary Māori art. This concept looks beyond traditional frameworks and explores the evolution of Māori art in response to changing social and cultural contexts.

According to Brown, this basket does not start with modernism, which is often associated with Western art. Instead, it focuses on the role of people like Te Puea Hērangi, Sir Āpirana Ngata, and Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana in shaping Māori art as a means of social reform and self-determination.

**The Role of Art in Self-Determination**

MP Whetū Tirikātene-Sullivan, a leader in contemporary Māori fashion, received Whina Cooper’s hīkoi (a journey to reclaim her people’s rights) outside Parliament in 1975. This moment marked a turning point in the struggle for Māori self-determination.

The story of Māori art is closely tied to the concept of kaitiakitanga – care and guardianship of one’s culture and environment. As Professor Brown notes, “Our starting chapter looks at the role of people who saw art and architecture as a way of social reform, but really a way of self-determination within the culture.”

**Conclusion**

The history of Māori art is complex and multifaceted. By examining the three baskets – light, darkness, and pursuit – we can gain a deeper understanding of the evolution of Māori art and its ongoing relevance today.

Through the lens of these baskets, we can see that Māori art has always been about more than just aesthetics; it is about cultural identity, social reform, and self-determination. As Professor Brown says, “We’re not just talking about the past. We’re reflecting on who is practicing now.”