Generation Zine

By Riya Singh
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 a form and
an integral part of art practice which are widely distributed. Zine culture not only shares
views of the public but also fosters innovation and community. It showcases art in an
accessible and affordable manner which has helped champion the DIY, counterculture
and personal opinion spirit.

Today, there are no restrictions to what you can publish in zines.

Here we bring you 5 zines to follow along with the people behind
them:
1. 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.

Source: Curry - Official Website

2. 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.

Source: Kokaachi - Official Website

3. 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.

Source: Google Images

4. 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.

Source: Gaysi Official Website

5. 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.

Source: Google Images