R. Scott MacLeay https://scottmacleay.com https://encounter-right-left-hemispheres.online https://www.facebook.com/R.Scott.MacLeay.art/ https://www.instagram.com/scott.macleay/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmacleay/ I am a Canadian new media artist, composer and writer based in Florianópolis, Brazil whose career is composed of three distinct overlapping phases: analogue photographic period (Vancouver and Paris 1978-1988) / contemporary music composition for video art and contemporary dance (Paris 1988-2000) / photographic, audio and video-based digital works (Paris and Florianópolis, Brazil 2000 – present). My creative process consists of building conceptual models of situations, undoubtedly a result of my formal education in the social sciences. My use of chance procedures and arbitrary rule-based constraints have become key components of my model-building process impacting the conception, realisation and presentation of my work. I deliberately introduce this partially controlled or uncontrolled interference into my process as a way of generating what I refer to as constructive disorientation. Interference disrupts intention, forcing detours that shift perception, provoke new questions and elevate intuition to a higher plane. Idea and process evolve together through this friction, nurturing informed understanding and the emergence of new personal perspectives on the human condition. I am defined by what I think and feel, not by what I see. My practice has therefore been driven by a sustained exploration of visual, audio and gestural languages capable of articulating psychological and emotional states in ways that are meaningful to me and potentially resonant for others. Across analogue photography, music for contemporary dance and video art, and more recent new media practices, my work consistently begins with an investigation of the dynamics of situations. Static results hold little interest compared to the forces that generate them. Doubt and ambiguity are more productive than certainty, which too easily becomes a constraint. This approach requires a willingness to be lost - to inhabit unfamiliar territories and to co-habit and embrace uncertainty and the discomfort it embodies. Education • • •
1974/75 Doctoral studies (Economics): University of British Columbia – Vancouver, BC, Canada. I left these studies in 1975 to pursue a career in photography. 1974 Master of Science (Economics): London School of Economics & Political Science - London, England. 1972 Honours B.A. (Economics): Queen’s University - Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Honors / Awards Since 2017, I have devoted an increasing amount of my time to the creation of experimental video works and transmedia projects (link to video works: https://link.scottmacleay.com/4YK85Z). During this period my video works have been selected in numerous video / film festivals and have received over 100 awards ranging from Best Producer and Best Cinematographer to Best Experimental Film and Best Director in events in London, Paris, Cannes, Berlin, Rome, Venice, Florence, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Toronto, Mexico City, Santiago de Chile, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai. My photographic works are found in museum and private collections in Japan, N. & S. America and Europe. •
2017-26 numerous awards won at international video / film festivals. A detailed list of recent awards can be accessed at: https://link.scottmacleay.com/oaKW0e
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1991 1990 1988 1987
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2 works from Fragments acquired for their Permanent Collection by the Museum of Fine Art Houston. 14 works from Attitudes/Fragments acquired for their Permanent Collection by the Brooklyn Museum. 1 work from Primates 1s, 2s, 3s acquired for their Permanent Collection by Le Parvis, Tarbes, France. 10th Tokyo Video Festival: Special Merit Award for the excellence in musical composition for the video dance Josette Einstein (co-production: Centre Georges Pompidou, Daikiri, American Center).
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1982
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1982
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1981
Named American Center / Rockefeller Foundation Artist in Residence for the creation of my multimedia exhibition Fragments Cycles Sons, 1982 Mois de la Photo in Paris. New York Art Directors Club Award for the photographic work from my series Attitudes featured in the Stephen DeGange article Cool Conceits, Camera Arts (March/April 1981). Inclusion in The Time-Life series of books on the History of Photography in the chapter In Pursuit of Excellence in the final volume of the series The Art of Photography.
Solo New Media / Analogue Photographic Exhibitions (a selection) • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
2020
Galeria Maria Cláudia Alencar: Retrosective: 40 anos de Provocação, Festival de Fotografia de Tiradentes, Brazil (2020) – exhibition program interrupted due to Covid restrictions. 2016 Galeria Boiteux: Scott MacLeay, New Works, Florianópolis, Brazil. 2014 Galeria Lindolf Bell, CIC: Interferências: Scott MacLeay e Convidados, Florianópolis, Brazil. 2011 Fundação Cultural Badesc: Cores Corpos e Coros, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. 1988 Le Parvis: Primates 1s, 2s & 3s, Tarbes, France. 1985 / 83 Marcuse Pfeifer Gallery: Fragments (1983) and Primates 1s, 2s & 3s (1985), New York, USA. 1984 Gallery Ton Peek: Fragments, Utrecht, The Netherlands (1984). 1984 / 81 Mido Gallery: Attitudes (1981) and Fragments (1984), Vancouver, BC, Canada. 1982 American Center for Artists: Fragments Cycles Sons, Mois de la Photo, Paris, France. 1982 AO Gallery: Attitudes, Tokyo, Japan. 1982 Equivalents Gallery: Attitudes, Seattle, Washington, USA. 1981 Gallery 3, Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art: Attitudes, New York. 1981 Deja Vu Gallery: Attitudes, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 1980 The Space Gallery: Attitudes, New York, USA.
Group New Media / Analogue Photographic Exhibitions (a selection) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
2021 2019 2014 2013 2012 1989 1988 1985 1985 1985 1985 1984 1984 1983 1983 1980
Le Parvis: exhibition of the Permanent Collection of Le Parvis Tarbes-Pau, Pau, France. Galeria Pedra: 3x3=1, Scott MacLeay / Lauro Andrade / Marco Giacomelli, Florianópolis, Brazil. Artigo Rio - Feira de Arte Contemporânea: Abstractions, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Museu de Arte de Santa Catarina: Fotografia(s) Contemporânea Brasileira, Florianópolis, Brazil. Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH): exhibition of the Permanent Collection, Houston, Texas, USA. Museum für Kunst und Geschiche in Freiburg: Glanz und Elend des Körpers, Freiburg, Switzerland. Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris: Splendeurs et Misères du Corps, Paris, France. Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans: A Unity of Visions, New Orleans, USA. French Cultural Center: A Unity of Visions, New York, USA. Amsterdam National Contemporary Art Fair: images from Fragments, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Frankfurter Kunstverein: images from Fragments, Frankfurt, Germany. American Center Gallery: images from Fragments, Paris, France. Münchner Stadtmuseum: images from Fragments, Munich, Germany. Galérie Créatis: Gallery Artists, images from Fragments, Paris, France. Marcuse Pfeiifer Gallery: Gallery Artists, images from Attitudes New York, USA. Galérie Ufficio dell'Arte / Créatis: Avant-Garde, Mois de la Photo, Paris, France.
Musical Compositions / Sound Designing (a selection): •
2025
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2023
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2021
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2020
Musical creation and sound designing of the single channel video Alternate of Ruchita – Florianópolis, Brazil. Musical creation and audio production for the 13 videos of Where I Rest (Onde Repouso), new media e-book of Ruchita - Florianópolis, Brazil. Music and lyrics for the streaming album Locked Doors, Open Windows, a compilation of alternative music created by my group Private Circus from 1990-2020. Label: Creative Process (UPC: 672985976788) - Florianópolis, Brazil. Musical creation / sound designing for my transmedia project (interactive book / Web site / installation) Encounters in the Right and Left Hemispheres, Creative Process - Florianópolis, Brazil.
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2019
Musical creation for Escuridão Iluminada, new media exhibition of Lauro Andrade. Instituto Juarez Machado - Joinville, Brazil. 2016 Musical creation for Metamorphosis IV, new media exhibition of Marco Giacomelli. Instituto Juarez Machado - Joinville, Brazil. 1997-98 Musical creation Fenêtre(s) - choreography: Nadège MacLeay., Vivat d'Armentières (1997) / Maison du Théâtre et de la Danse, Bruay la Buissière (1998). 1996 Musical creation Siegfried for C’est Ça le Paradis? - choreography: Nadège MacLeay. Rencontres Chorégraphiques Internationales de Seine-Saint-Denis, Maison du Théâtre et de la Danse, Épinay-surSeine. 1995 Musical creation for L’Europe en Multicoque (360° special format film for the Futuroscope, Poitiers) Director: Jean-Michel Destand. Production: Les Productions du Futuroscope, Paris/Poitiers, France. 1995 Concepteur sonore & Mixage de Pierre et Le Loup de Sergueï Prokofiev, film de Michel Jaffrennou. Production: Capa Productions, Canal+. 1994 CD Compilation of musical creations for contemporary dance La Moitié de l’Histore: creation pour la danse contemporaine, interpreted by Private Circus. Label: Sordide Sentimental SSFP99. Rouen 1993 Musical creation and sound design for Dissimulation (fiction), video artist: Hervé Nisic. Production: INA – La Sept ARTE. 1992 Musical creation for Le Grand Manège de la Forêt (installation video), Video artist: Michel Jaffrennou for the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie – La Villette. Production: Ex Nihilo. Paris. 1990 Music and lyrics for the CD Small Crowds (Les Petites Foules), contemporary cabaret opera interpreted by Private Circus. Label: Sordide Sentimental SSCD0004, Rouen. 1990 Musical creation for Tour de France en 360° (first European 360° special format film for the Futuroscope Poitiers), Director: Marc Sator. Production: Bakelite, Paris. 1989 Musical creation for 13 modules of Vidéopérette (live vidéo performance and vidéo art programme), video artist: Michel Jaffrennou. Production: La Grande Halle-La Villette, Ex Nihilo, Canal+, Centre Georges Pompidou, French Ministry of Culture.
Institutional arts / cultural project experience •
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2000-01 Audiovisual consulting on special format cinema and video installations for Tao Ho Design Architects (Hong Kong / Shanghai / Beijing) – tourism development projects in Hong Kong (Ocean Park, Kowloon & North Point) and Guilin, China. 2000-03 Audiovisual Project Evaluation in Champagne Region of France for various local governments and the Conseil Regional Champagne (Valmy / Colombey-Les Deux Églises / Chateauvallain / Aix-En-Othe). 1987-98 Founded the MMAP (Music, Media art, Photography) – association of artists for the development of a program of workshops in collaboration with private studios, film producers, composers and video artists in Paris. 1985-87 Director of the Center for Media Art and Photography (CMAP) at the American Center in Paris – responsible for production projects, the program of workshops with invited artists and public events. 1980-87 Founded the Photography Department at the American Center in Paris – responsible for curriculum development and the hiring of teachers.
Books •
2024
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2023
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2022
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2022
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2020
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2018
Challenged - book of my new media images based on AI-created models of elderly persons (Creative Process, Florianópolis, Brazil). Tropical Interference – compilation of my new media creations 2010-2015 (Creative Process, Florianópolis, Brazil). Futility As Rebirth – a collection of my texts and graphic arts images on the seduction of absurdity (Creative Process, Florianópolis, Brazil). Thoughts On … the daily musings of an economist turned artist – a compilation of my thoughts on art, the cultural universe, geopolitics and psychology (Creative Process, Florianópolis, Brazil). Encounters in the Right and Left Hemispheres – Part I of my transmedia project exploring the concept of relationship development by chance (Creative Process, Florianópolis, Brazil). Quadrichromie 1978-1988 – a compilation of analogue photographic works from my series Attitudes,
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2015
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2011
Fragments and Wavelength (Creative Process, Florianópolis, Brazil). Pensar, Sentir, Ver: Percepção e Processo em Fotografia – a collection of my essays (in Portuguese) discussing new perspectives on photography (Editora Photos, Balneário Camboriú, Brazil). G.D. Truc: The Man, The Book –compilation of satirical cartoons and texts based on my fictional French character G.D. Truc (Robert Scott MacLeay, Florianópolis, Brazil).
Teaching and mentorships • •
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2011-26 Professor of New Media Art: multiple courses / private mentoring of Brazilian artists – The Creative Process, Florianópolis, Brazil (link to program: https://www.scottmacleay.com/teaching 2020-22 Professor of New Media Art / Photography: NucleoFac - Escola de Fotografia, Arte e Cultura, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. 2021 Professor of New Media Art / Photography: In Search of Imperfection - Plataforma Humanis, São Paulo, Brazil. 2011-19 Professor of New Media Art / Photography: Advanced workshops on conceptual themes in portraiture, abstraction, interactive story-telling and digital media fields in various national institutions & festivals in Brazil including among others: Floripa na Foto (2011 Florianópolis), ICP – International Center of Photography (2012 New York), SESC Santana & SESC 24 de Maio (2014-17-18 São Paulo), Festival de Fotografia de Tiradentes (2013-15-18-19 Tiradentes). 1980-98 Professor of Photography: American Center in Paris (1980-87) and MMAP, Paris (1987-98). 1978-79 Professor of Photography: Continuing Education Department, Langara University, Vancouver, Canada.
Curatorial Work Since my arrival in Brazil in 2010, I have continued my work begun in Paris at the American Center helping emerging artists develop their sills and gain access to exhibition opportunities. In line with this philosophy, I have curated numerous exhibitions of Brazilian new media artists who have followed long-term mentoring programs with me. A list of these exhibitions is available at: https://www.scottmacleay.com/curating Media Coverage Over the years, numerous publications have published and/or reviewed my work and presented interviews of me concerning specific series or videos. Among the most recent interviews are: • 2026 Wild Filmmaker: online interview with Wild Filmmaker after NOISE winning Best Experimental Film of the Year at the Tribeca Film Critics Circle Awards 2026: https://scottmacleay.com/wild-filmmakerinterview-june-2026 • 2025 Al-Tiba9 Magazine, Interview: 10 Questions with R. Scott MacLeay – October 2025: https://www.altiba9.com/artist-interviews/r-scott-macleay-video-new-media-lens-baseddocumentary • 2024 Wild Filmmaker: online interview with Wild Filmmaker after the double win (Best Experimental Short Project & Best Original Filmmaker) at the Special Event of the Venice International Film Festival, 2024: https://wildfilmmaker.com/exclusive-interview-with-r-scott-macleay/ A selection of articles/interviews spanning my entire career: https://www.scottmacleay.com/articles-interviews Artist talks / Presentations Since moving to Brazil, I have been asked to give many public lectures at exhibitions and festivals as well as online. The following is a small selection (the first 2 are in Portuguese): • 2021 Interview Foto em Pauta with Eugênio Sávio. Discussion of transmedia and my project Encounters in the Right and Left Hemispheres: https://www.youtube.com/live/uAdN9k47Whw • 2019 Public lecture - Festival de Fotografia de Tiradentes: https://vimeo.com/741416871?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci • 2014 Interview concerning my exhibition Interferências at the Lindolf Bell Gallery, Florianópolis (May 2014): https://vimeo.com/102615805?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci • 2014 Interview in Rio de Janeiro for the cultural program focusing on visual and performing artists Estúdio Móvel (TV Brasil): https://vimeo.com/1156864026?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci