The Escapist Pursuit of Fursuiters

When people hear about 'Furries', they often assume the worst: Its either seen as a sexually deprived activity, or something which is inherently 'creepy', rather than as an artist pursuit - which is how it is viewed from those who participate. I wanted to explore the subculture in a way which is more 'human', focussing on the craftsmanship, and care that they put into creating the costumes, the sense of community which I observed, and the joy which people took from participating. These photos were taken over the period of a weekend at a convention in a caravan park in rural Devon. Its important to stress that 'Fursuiting' is not a sexual act, rather a chance to lose oneself in a colourful persona which you create for yourself: Escapism at its purest. This is my first foray into documentary photography, and I plan to explore other forms of escapism which have gained in popularity in recent years.