Portraiture can be a powerful way to tell stories. In 2023, Wellington photographer Russell Kleyn exhibited a series of portraits of, and in collaboration with, a local man Raymond McMahon. Russell first noticed Raymond in Kilbirnie in 2010 due to his outfit. He describes him as dressed like a martial arts character from the underworld. He didn’t see Raymond again for 11 years. In 2021 Russell saw him and decided to introduce himself. Raymond agreed to work with Russell on a series of portraits, to share his story.

Raymond sees special meaning in the outfits he wears. Dressed all in white, he takes on his persona of ‘the white ninja’, and sees himself as a protector, perhaps even a Jesus figure. In black, he is ‘the black ninja’, shielding himself from bad energy. Tash who works with Raymond at the City Mission thinks that at another time, he might have been revered as a matakite – a far-seer, or someone with special intuition. ‘He has perceptual differences and can see beyond’. Tash explains that Raymond often has unsettling visions and premonitions. He was told by a priest there is a powerful protecting force in him. Feeling this and wanting to understand it Raymond visited a psychic who told him that he had a white stallion and a black stallion protecting him.

Russell Kleyn says, as someone who has lived a relatively safe existence, sometimes he finds it hard to fathom how wild Raymond’s life has been. After a traumatic upbringing that included violence, homelessness and food insecurity, Raymond found something that gave his life meaning. Raymond is a devout Christian who loves Grandmaster Flash and spending time in nature.

Russell Kleyn is a South African born multidisciplinary photographer based in Wellington. Russell studied graphic design in Cape Town and photography at London’s Central Saint Martin’s College of Art. His work is included in the art collections of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery in London. His editorial work is displayed on a vast array of both print and online forums, locally and internationally.