LORE BUILDS
I created this image as a way to visualise the relationship I feel between cosplay and gender. As a non-binary cosplayer, this hobby has allowed me to literally try on different identities, keeping what fit, discarding what doesn't, and much like needlework, tailoring the right pieces for a perfect fit.
My cosplays make me feel confident - both in my abilities as a maker, but as an embodiment of the values that these characters represent. As a person who experiences dysphoria, gender affirming care such as binders, healthcare, and expression of personal style also make me feel confident. I wanted to create an image that visually demonstrates the way my binder makes me feel, so I opted for a tarot-card style that displayed the items as mirroring sensations.
The armour itself is created out of EVA foam, leather strapping with metal buckles, acrylic paints, and a custom chainmail-print bodysuit. Although the suit itself was designed for warm-weather wear, this image was actually taken in January as I am constantly captivated by the way the colours of this church window play off of snow. I set my camera on a tripod with a timer and set a remote-trigger strobe in an octobox above my head. Once I determined my focus points, it was a matter of using the timer to capture images in the bitter cold. The images came quickly, luckily, and after some compositing and colour grading, I settled on this final image. I continue to be proud of the way I was able to capture the way that I feel because of cosplay and freedom to express my identity.
Self Portrait of lorebuilds, wearing an original 15 Century Wonder Woman cosplay