Cosplay: Finding Authenticity Through Costume

Mon, 16 Mar, 2026 at 07:30 pm UTC+00:00

The Friends Hall, Homestead Road, HG1 5QR Harrogate, United Kingdom | Harrogate

Harrogate Photographic Society
Publisher/HostHarrogate Photographic Society
Cosplay: Finding Authenticity Through Costume
Advertisement
Monday, November 3, 2025
THURSTAN REDDING
Cosplay: Finding Authenticity Through Costume
Thurstan Redding is a Hong Kong-born, French-raised British photographer and director based in London. He has contributed to i-D, M: Le Magazine du Monde, British Vogue, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Arena Homme +, Document Journal, Love, The Wall Street Journal, Re-Edition, and Replica. His commercial clients include Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Miu Miu, Paco Rabanne, Marc Jacobs, Chloé, and Burberry.
Years ago, Thurstan was longing for images that were layered with sociological meaning; the sort of images that he had not seen before. He had been searching
for a subject matter that still had space for exploration. When he came across a cosplay convention in 2017 he was transfixed…
Cosplay (noun): The activity or practice of dressing up as a character from a work of fiction (such as a comic book, video game, or television show).
It took three years to properly gain the trust of around 50 cosplayers from 50 different locations, and capture the beauty of their craftsmanship; this often comes alive in the most unassuming of places: a suburban home as they create ingenious costumes; a local bus stop as they head out in full regalia; a teenage bedroom before connecting with their wide community.
Thurstan’s project aimed to provide a never-before-seen insight into the cosplay community, which is notoriously esoteric, difficult to photograph and rarely documented outside the confines of cosplay conventions. Sometime, all it takes is to scratch the surface of our realities to reveal the fantasy beneath…
£5 on the door or zoom invite via [email protected]
Advertisement

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Friends Hall, Homestead Road, HG1 5QR Harrogate, United Kingdom, Harrogate, United Kingdom

Icon
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Ask AI if this event suits you:

More Events in Harrogate

The Great British Bake Off Musical
Wed, 18 Mar at 07:30 pm The Great British Bake Off Musical

Harrogate Theatre

Belle Voix Trio - A Night of Motown & Northern Soul
Fri, 20 Mar at 07:30 pm Belle Voix Trio - A Night of Motown & Northern Soul

High Street (behind Tesco), HG5 0EQ Knaresborough, United Kingdom

Live Lecture: Janet Williams- Julian of Norwich and the Last Judgement
Sat, 21 Mar at 10:00 am Live Lecture: Janet Williams- Julian of Norwich and the Last Judgement

St Mark's Church, Harrogate

The Mix + Match Workshop - Creative Jesmonite Class w\/ Objectify
Wed, 25 Mar at 06:30 pm The Mix + Match Workshop - Creative Jesmonite Class w/ Objectify

St Roberts Catholic Club

The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2026
Thu, 26 Mar at 06:00 pm The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2026

Pavilions Of Harrogate

Harrogate Regency Ball 2026
Sat, 28 Mar at 07:15 pm Harrogate Regency Ball 2026

Cedar Court Hotel, Harrogate, United Kingdom

Harrogate is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore Harrogate Events