Cosplay Exhibition at Design Museum Den Bosch Explores Identity and Craft

The Design Museum Den Bosch is showcasing 'Cosplay', an exhibition that delves into the worldwide cosplay community through a collection of handmade costumes, stories, and photography. Featuring eight blue-haired mannequins, the display highlights outfits inspired by Hatsune Miku, a virtual Japanese pop icon. The creativity of cosplay is evident in life-size figures adorned in costumes, some of which require over a hundred hours to create. Two reconstructed bedrooms filled with wigs and materials further exemplify this craft. Cosplayers often explore themes of gender and self-identity, revealing newfound confidence. Niccolò Rastrelli's photographic series 'They don't look like me' (2024) humorously portrays teens in costumes alongside their relatives. The exhibition also tackles serious themes, showing activists using costumes for protest. Photos are credited to Evita Copier.