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The world today is divided between those who walk around with hundreds of books and magazines on an e-reader, and those who still prefer to hold them by their spine. But the count of the latter is on the wane. At the same time, there’s hunger for independent print that feels new. The more gargantuan the mainstream becomes, the more there is the need for alternative or counterculture voices to emerge. And one of the key platforms that have hosted many of these voices are independent zines. Zines are curated to reflect the creation of the eye. They can be considered as an integral part of art practice which is widely distributed. Zine culture not only shares views of the public, but also fosters innovation and community solidarity. It showcases art in an accessible and affordable manner, thereby helping people champion DIY, counterculture and the freedom of having personal opinions.
I. Curry
Curry Magazine grew out of Shreya Dalmia’s graduation project at London College of Fashion. The magazine is characterised by a sense of curiosity — one of the most memorable features from the debut issue was Amy Lockwood’s piece on hallucinogens, which was accompanied by embroidered photographs by Nicole Chui.
You can read more about Curry here.
II. Mixtape
Mixtape was launched by Tina and Pratheek Thomas, the duo behind independent publishing house Kokaachi. There are no superheroes or mythologies in the comics, but mostly realistic fiction with a dash of quirkiness and humor. Mixtape was envisioned as a platform for aspiring creators to showcase their stories.
Check out Mixtape here.
III. Concorde
A bi-monthly zine dedicated to photographing the streets of India, Concorde tells just one tightly focused story at a time. Concorde chronicles the simple, unchanging moments that are the essence of life in India.
Check out the zine here.
IV. For the Love of God
For The Love Of God tells the often unacknowledged queer stories from popular Indian mythology. Produced by Gaysi Family, this is a beautifully illustrated anthology of gods and deities who don’t conform to established gender roles.
Check out Homegrown’s article on the zine here.
V. Biblio
Founded in 1995, Biblio is one of the oldest running literary reviews in India. At its heart, Biblio is a testimony to resilience; it has fought the shrinking space for book reviews in mainstream media, and soldiered on despite budget crunches. Over the years, Biblio has introduced special thematic sections that explore issues of contemporary relevance — climate change, the blurring of the gender lines, and the socio-political landscape in the country.
Check out the review here.
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