I am 10 years old in Deviant Art. I believe that the best way to celebrate it is to do the best I can do: write a book.
The theme of the book is Cosplay. But it is not a photo book, but an academic one, in which, regardless of addressing this artistic phenomenon from all angles, exposing the good and the bad, but, above all, placing it in a social historical context , the conclusion will be that cosplay is an art. And an art as worthy of respect as acting, dance, music, although apparently it does not require a university education. I am of the idea that the best cosplayers are the ones who know Japanese culture best ... although my journey is still long, and a question may arise that creates a "crater" ... and then, I am forced to retrace the path and reach a different conclusion.
There are many doubts and concerns that I intend to raise in this book. There are things that fascinate me, others that concern me, and that is the profile of the artists I am looking for: that they bewitch me with their art ... or that they leave me extremely restless. I am not only a practitioner of this art, an amateur (I doubt to reach professionalism with the disease that afflicts me, of which I have already spoken, fibromyalgia); I am also a mother, and it was precisely to please my oldest daughter that I started in this art, exactly 10 years ago.
I opened this Deviant Art page to post our cosplay photos. He did not intend, nor the idea of making art (possibly "deviant art"), only of setting up a kind of family gallery. But they were not photos of conventions, but of the presentations of my books, which in summary address the adventures of two young girls who belong to a family of mangakas, and are used as characters, and one of them becomes a recognized artist in this item I imposed that the presentations would be with cosplays, that is, that anime characters commented on the books, and we had great success despite the fact that in Mexico the presentations of books are boring and solemn.
As I became familiar with the practice of cosplay (for which we practiced in conventions, the best thermometer to know if the cosplay we would present was charismatic enough), I wanted more to get into the psychological of those who, like me, were pleased to "become others" and reached extremes of sacrifice to achieve the closest to perfection. Already then I considered writing a book about the art of cosplay that would make people see themselves without imagination, which awards oddities to this art, which is much, much more, than girls with pink hair and boys with fox ears .
I have tried unsuccessfully to establish contact with Deviant Art artists who have ignored my messages; others have already agreed to participate. All they have to do is answer a questionnaire. But ... be careful! It's not just any questionnaire; They are not cloned questions for all participants. Each will receive questions formulated strictly for them. Although all a passion in common, they are completely different individuals. There are those who practice their art amid privileges and comforts; others do it by making huge sacrifices of money and time. Among the latter, many have to deal with the disagreement of their parents, or give priority to their studies (which is not bad) .... there are those who have overcome complex and traumas through this art. Although 70% of cosplay artists are young people between 16 and 38 years old (those who have agreed to participate in my book, I mean), there are 40, 50, 60. The oldest is 78 years old.
Through this diary, I will allow myself to make three calls. I will infinitely thank anyone who answers:
1) I URGENTLY need professional cosplay artists from the United States and England. I have assembled a very heterogeneous group, which includes cosplayers from unimaginable countries. I only have amateur cosplayers from the United States, and from England I have absolutely no one. I want to be honest: I have tried to communicate with at least five renowned US cosplayers, but they IGNORE my messages. In England the situarion is similar. I will make a last call through this journal, begging the sky to report.
2) I will also call some cosplayers that I would love to include in my book and they have not answered my messages. I will also call some cosplayers that I would love to include in my book and have not answered my messages. And if anyone knows them, or is close to them, I will be infinitely grateful if you tell them that their presence is very important in my book, or tell me where to locate them. If you ignore me again, I will assume that you are not interested in participating in the project:
This call is open to those who wish to participate, but it must be taken into account that not everyone who approaches will be interviewed. They can be absolutely certain, however, that their work will be mentioned.
I appreciate your attention, your help, your direct or indirect collaboration for my book and your response to my call.
Skin by SimplySilent