Why I find cosplaying to be the most interesting form of artistic expression

When I was in secondary school some 15 years ago (shudders), there was a newspaper article covering a cosplay event that happened over the weekend.

At that time, the cosplay scene was still nascent. There was a lot of love for the Anime, Comics and Games (ACG) scene, but cosplay was nowhere as widespread as it is now, or at least, nearly as accessible.

I was floored to see fellow Singaporeans dressed as characters that I recognised.

One of the cosplayers even worked closely with their mother on their costume.

I admired the cosplayers featured in the article so much, I saved that part of the newspaper page and put it in my homework file, so I could take it out at school to read it.

I attempted cosplaying

Fast forward many years later, I’ve attempted cosplaying.

I was really bad at it.

I spent too many late nights hiding my eyebrows, contouring my nose and neck, filling up the dustbin with countless sheets of used tissues and cotton buds, correcting my makeup until the wee hours of the night.

I’d love to tell you that I am a successful cosplayer now, but I am nowhere close to the quality that many young cosplayers are able to achieve, even if it’s their very first or second time trying it out and nailing it.

The younger generation is indeed very lucky to have access to the resources that they have now.

I still get into cosplay very occasionally.

Ironically, it’s usually work events or parties that prompt me to fish out my tools, such as this particular video where I low-cost cosplayed Himmel from the hit anime and manga series “Frieren: Journey’s End”.

@mothershipsg respect #tiktoksg #sgnews #frieren #himmel ♬ Perfect for Vlog and travel BGM Lofi(1253834) - IWAI Noriko

Cosplay as a form of artistic expression everyone can get into

I think cosplaying is the one art form that truly connects everyone via their love for a character - or in some cases, an actor, a series, or even musicians.

Whether you’re a professional or you’re an amateur, you’ll find yourself wanting to go beyond just looking the part, but also learning how to best encapsulate the spirit of the character they’re embodying.

For those of us choosing to do very niche or unique characters, this process can get way more intense compared to someone who may be able to order parts of the costume off an e-commerce app or website.

One will have to piece together costumes by oneself, making it from scratch, or find the resources to get it done, such as commissioning others to help create it.

Many cosplayers pour hours into recreating difficult hairstyles, getting in shape to better look like the character, and even learning to sing, dance or pose like them.

A number would even travel down to specific places (or countries!) to do photoshoots, replicating the scenes from the media which the character was depicted in.

Even though I haven’t really had the time to devote myself fully to cosplay, seeing my acquaintances spend so much time honing their craft impresses me to no end.

Of course, not all of us will have the resources to do this from day one, and neither will all of us be able to get to that level.

However, getting into character, showing our love for a character is not something constrained by the limitations of our cosplay abilities.

Any amount of effort poured into that character brings together fans and friends at conventions and events.

Another aspect of cosplay, which I treasure? The community.

A sense of community and wider acceptance

There’s a great sense of community in the cosplay world.

It’s not uncommon to ask friends for help and tips, or to commission someone to help out with the creation of props or wigs.

Organising a photoshoot involves a whole team of friends and contacts, from the photographers and their assistants, along with our trusty friends who help us along when we’re in cosplay, aiding us with anything pertaining to the shoot, and making sure that we look our best.

And of course, interacting with others while in cosplay.

The smiles, encouragement, photos and even help from strangers to fix costume mishaps on the fly really brings about this sense of community I’ve rarely found anywhere else.

I’ve befriended a number of people that have become my life-long friends.

I even have colleagues who are from the scene.

The skills you learn and the people you meet in the hobby are something that continues to make a difference in your everyday life, well after you’ve stopped.

I do think that it’s not sunshine and rainbows.

The scene has definitely changed from when I was younger; the games and shows that dominate the landscape have changed.

Some of us struggle with social media algorithms as well, along with other points of friction that inevitably arise from such a hobby.

However, the satisfaction of doing a character that’s close to your heart is incredibly rewarding, no matter how many fans there are who recognise your character.

Now, the idea of cosplay is so widely accepted, it blows my mind to see regular colleagues use the word “cosplay” in their everyday vocabulary.

It even became a plot point of a TV show in a recent local drama as well.

It fills my heart with joy to know that there’s such a great, newfound acceptance for it.

Upcoming CosVerse cosplay event

There’s a lot of events I haven't been keeping up with unlike when I was younger, but I still love going to events from time to time.

So if you’re just like me, a working adult that thinks it's too late to start, or a young person wondering if it’s something that you should even try, why not give it a shot?

You never know what you might gain from the experience.

Here’s one upcoming event that you may want to go to.

CosVerse, an ACG event with the vision of harnessing the community’s creativity to the world, with something for regulars and newcomers alike.

Attendees can look forward to art booths, performances, and cosplay guests who include the following:

• Guest Cosplayers: Momoko Pigsfly, Reakami, Nappyraptor, Kiyo, Rithe, DJ Haru, Sakito, Kazue
• Guest Performers: HS.Joysu, Aijou, Cheryl Rein, Ari Anjou, Kirameki Future, Boiledcurry, ATSUko

There’ll also be an auction event, powered by Swypebites, a live commerce platform where attendees get to participate in real-time bidding.

CosVerse

Date: Oct. 5 to 6

Time: 12pm to 6pm

Location: HomeTeamNS @ Khatib (Hall 1)

Admission starts at S$12 per day. Attendees can also purchase a two-day pass at S$18.

Get your tickets here.

This sponsored article by CosVerse has made the writer recall all the times she had to glue down her eyebrows to conceal them.

Top photo courtesy of CosVerse.