T h e C o s p l a y P r o j e c t

T r u e t o Y o u r s e l f - T h e C o s p l a y P r o j e c t

Mollie Diamond as a geisha warrior; Jeanette Malay as The Courier from Fallout: New Vegas;
Dave Purcell, Paul Jenkins & Eleanor Purcell as Judge Dredd, Judge Jenkins and Cadet Judge Purcell;
Jasmine as Undyne from Undertale; Amy as Touka from Tokyo Ghoul;
Gareth as Col. Stars and Stripes from Kickass 2;
Caitlin as Rey from Star Wars: The Last Jedi; Thairien as Pennywise from It;
Ben as The 7th Doctor; Corrie as a YoRHa No.2 Type B (aka 2B) battle android from NieR:Automata;
Helen as Asuna from Sword Art Online;
Harry Stone as a Commissar of the Death Korps of Kreig from Warhammer 4000
Chloe as Ayano Aishi from Lovesick: Yandere Simulator

This series of images explores the world of fantasy cosplay. Drawing on ancient myth and popular culture, mixed up with techno futurism, gaming dystopias, anime and comic books, cosplay fans create new personae for themselves as fantasy characters. Starting in Japan in the 80s, cosplay has spread across the globe to become a vast network of events, meet ups and online groups linking everyone from senior business managers to zero hours contract workers, and mums to students.

The aim of this project is to create a series of portraits of cosplay fans in character, located in everyday settings and familiar spaces. The settings were all chosen to reflect their characters in some way: so, a disused car showroom lot becomes a post-apocalyptic urban dystopia; the steps of the Welsh parliament becomes Megacity One; a local school becomes the backdrop for a lovelorn murderous schoolgirl…

If you would like to be photographed or know anyone who would be willing to have a portrait made, please contact me by email dvs@xox.org.uk or message 07786 572798.