Kids of Cosplay: Photo Book Captures Cosplay Like You’ve Never Seen It Before

Published by Volume, Kids of Cosplay is the result of a three-year photography project. Inspired by a trip to MCM London Comic Con in 2018, Thurstan’s images showcase cosplay ingenuity in a way never seen before.

For those who haven’t had the luxury of attending Comic-Con, cosplay is a term used to describe attendees who have created their own outfits of their favorite characters. These costumes are usually homemade, which are then worn and embodied by fans. The likes of Harley Quinn, Darth Vader and dozens of Doctor Who are favorites among the many outfits on display.

And while hundreds of photos of these spectacular costumes are taken at conventions, Thurstan has taken a different approach by pointing his camera lens at the cosplayer in unassuming locations. This shows how creativity can thrive in even the most mundane realities, with clever costumes depicted in suburban homes, bus stops and bedrooms.

“I was never interested in cosplay until I started this project, not because I didn’t find it interesting, but just because I wasn’t really up to speed on it,” Thurstan tells Creative Boom. “I first saw a cosplayer in Los Angeles and then again at the DLR in London, and I remember being really intrigued by how colorful the costume was. Then I started researching cosplay and went to ComicCon, and it was like discovering an almost parallel universe. I was impressed by the attention to detail that the cosplayers put into their costumes and also the incredible sense of community they have.”

During her project and subsequent visits to other comic book conventions, Thurstan would approach cosplayers and ask for their details because she loved her costumes, often with surprising responses: “Some cosplayers wouldn’t break character. I remember asking Daenerys Targaryen about Game of Thrones if I would participate in the book and, if so, if I could get his email, and he told me that he had never heard of an email and that I should contact a ‘messenger'”.

Of all the cosplayers she’s documented over the years, Thurstan certainly has a few favorites, but it’s @f.ukuro who stands out and appears as Himiko Toga in her new book. “The first time I photographed her, she was a waitress in a pub near her home town, dressing up from the side. But I remember the footage coming back, and I felt reshooting might be good, as I didn’t feel like the location made it “. her justice. Then, a few months later, we shot her again, and by that time, she had gone viral on Tik Tok and amassed over seven million followers, she had quit her job and become a full-time cosplayer. The trajectory was quite amazing to witness,” she says.

Another moment led to Thurstan being expelled from the accommodation where he was staying. “I realized that the view from my bedroom was perfect for a photo, so we blocked off several streets and had my assistants park their cars in specific spots to set the scene for the image,” he explains. “However, the neighbors started taking photos and posting them, so the owners of the house we were staying in saw them and thought we were doing some sort of lewd shoot. We were evicted the next morning as I was five Wonderwomen on the way, but no more base shooting.”

Presented in a beautiful clamshell box with contrasting acid pastel tones, this limited edition book combines these stunning images of full cosplay outfits with commentary from the creators themselves. There are also behind-the-scenes pages from Thurstan’s personal project diary.

“Cosplay is a new art form whose rules, benefits and limits we are still discovering,” says an ‘Aquaman’ cosplayer from the book. “It gives a person a voice that’s louder than their own, and I enjoy using that forever. Memes are great too.”

Rounding out the book is a foreword by fashion powerhouse Katie Grand and an essay by writer-performer Tom Rasmussen, in which he discusses the social and cultural context of dress-up play. An illuminating and compelling interview with Thurstan by noted fashion writer Sara McAlpine explores the hobby further.

“Thurstan and I grew up together, or at least I like to think we grew up together digitally,” says Katie. “Thurstan was always at the top of the list and always did challenging and beautiful work.”

In addition to the regular release, two-tier editions are also available, each with exclusive rewards. The special print edition includes a beautifully produced 280 x 150mm signed Giclée print of a Mystique cosplay, which is also the first print produced and released by Thurstan.

Meanwhile, a limited edition print titled ‘The Works’ will feature one of twenty-three unique double-sided pages ripped from Thurstan’s original Kids of Cosplay project journal.