Fibers BFA Thesis Project: Costume and Gallery Exhibition
“Those that have treated me with kindness, I will repay that kindness tenfold. And those that treat me with injustice, that use me, that hunt me down, that hurt my friends: I shall repay that injustice a thousand times over.”
Technoblade, 2020
Studio Art BFA Thesis Project
Character based on the Dream SMP
2024-2025
Technoblade’s reputation precedes him. He’s feared and respected. He’s an anarchist pig in a monarch outfit, and the irony is not lost on him. He was invited to the world of the Dream SMP as a tool of a rebellion. His friends had been exiled from the nation they founded, and Technoblade intended to destroy the government that had wronged them. After the war was won, his allies immediately reinstated the government he had sworn to destroy. Technoblade lashed out, releasing destructive creatures called Withers onto the celebrating crowd. When all was settled, he decided to retire far away from the nation that went back on their word.
However, retiring to the arctic did not end Technoblade’s problems. The nation’s new government resolved to hunt him down and execute him for his crimes. An ally found out and tipped him off in advance, allowing him to barely escape with his life. Technoblade again turned his thoughts towards revenge. He teamed up with some of the most powerful players on the server and destroyed this nation so brutally that it would never again recover, in an event that would later be known as “Doomsday”. He invited Ranboo, one of the nation’s displaced citizens, to move in with him. Shortly afterwards, he founded an anarchist group called The Syndicate, to prevent the rise of another oppressive government.
This costume adapts the in-game Minecraft avatar of the Youtuber, Technoblade. Technoblade passed away in the summer of 2022 from cancer. His loss devastated both the community that loved his videos and his fellow Youtubers. He was an incredibly well respected member of the community and a skilled Minecraft player. He dominated the competition in tournaments and challenges, coming out on top in head to head combat, minigames, and even farming potatoes. Beyond just his prowess at the game, his humor and dedication was infectious. He was kind, and worked to uplift others in the community. Technoblade used his platform as a vehicle for good, raising hundreds of thousands for various charities over the years.
I discovered Technoblade in 2020 when he joined the Minecraft roleplay server Dream SMP. His character’s story grabbed me, and he rapidly became one of my favorites. I joined online fan communities dedicated to talking about the creators and the narrative of the server, where I met some of my best friends in the world. His story, and the community surrounding it, have been a massive source of inspiration to create over the years. I’ve made many cosplays, pieces of fan art, and collaborated with writers through community events. This cosplay is a culmination of that inspiration, concentrated into a single project that spanned over a year and a half.
This project, for me, is about immortalizing the legacy of Technoblade as both character and creator. I draw inspiration from the stories he was a part of, the competitions he played in, his achievements, and his friendships. Each motif references a specific element of the story. Every prop is an item he actually owned in the game. The banner on his back and emerald earring reference his best friend, Philza. By weaving these elements together, I create a love letter to Technoblade’s work.
I’m using my art to share the passion and joy this community has brought me, and to make it so that in many little ways “Technoblade never dies”.
The full costume on display in the Grunwald Gallery at Indiana University in May 2025