About.
Mary MacGregor-Reid is a video and photographic artist from Auckland,
New Zealand. She has a particular interest in alchemical process and human experience of the otherworldly.
Taking on character archetypes is intrinsic to much esoteric ritual, along with movement, gesture and the use of tools or symbolic objects. Mary became curious about the way we perform character, in part, through the veritable wardrobe of flamboyant personas cultivated by her Great Grandfather, who spearheaded the Druid revival in early 20th century Britain. She is currently compiling a book about this colourful character, examining his part in both the Victorian occult revival and the British labour party.
Although Mary works primarily in figurative moving image, she is a maker and sees the hands-on creation of costume and object to be an integral part of her practice; all of the costumes and props used within her video and photography are made by hand in her studio.
This combination of esoteric practice and historical research creates a rich selection of inspiration for Mary to draw upon when creating her lens-based work.