Self-Published Legends: Five Aussie Zine-Makers You Need To Know

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Zines aren't a new beast. If you've landed here knowing full well what a zine is, sit smugly for a second. For the initiated, what the heck is a zine? According to the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, "Zines – short for fanzines or magazines – are dependent or self-published publications informed by the DIY ethos, usually handmade and of a limited run." Essentially, they're one of the most hardy, historically avant-garde, no-holds-barred forms of self-publishing we've got today.

But you can't just buy 'em anywhere, you have to know where to look. Often you'll find them sitting in creative, bold local stores happy to stock their favourites, and sometimes you can order them online. But the best place to actually hold and flick through a zine — and meet the person who made it — is at a zine fair. Luckily, there's a big one coming (back) to Sydney.

Home to many a colossal zine fair over the years, the MCA is one of Sydney's only major institutions that hosts zine events. Their beloved Zine Fair is back on June 11 and 12 for Vivid, with over 100 independent stallholders for you to peruse. Each zine-maker has their own unique style — you'll find political satire sitting next to squee-inducing animal art. So before you head into the fair, we thought we'd introduce you to five of Australia's best and most unique zine-makers, to find out how they got into such a niche art in a digital world.

ALEX LATHAM

How did you get into zine making?
I got into zine making by applying for the MCA Zine Fair and on being accepted realised that I had to make a zine for the Zine Fair or I would have nothing on my table at the Zine Fair.

Describe your zine style in five words.
Crap. Really bad. Very good.

What's your favourite thing about zine making?
Using a hack saw.

MIKAELA CAILAO

How did you get into zine making?
A few of my good friends suggested participating in the MCA Zine Fair as a way of being productive and getting my drawings out there. One of them had a stall at the fair last year and had a lot of fun with it, so I thought I'd try it out this year.

Describe your zine style in five words.
Haven't figured that out yet...

What's your favourite thing about zine making?
So far, I'd have to say how broad the spectrum is. It's interesting seeing just how unique people's ideas are and what can be made out of those ideas.

JESS CHEN

How did you get into zine making?
I wanted to expand my art range into something different and find ways to expose myself as an artist (at the time I was only making prints and postcards) and so I experimented by collating bits of my artwork into themed zines. MCA Zine Fair was my gateway, and I took the chance, and loved making zines ever since.

Describe your zine style in five words.
Cute, whimsical, handmade, watercolour, cats.

What's your favourite thing about zine making?
Seeing that finished result and flicking through it, and seeing your artwork presented in a different form rather than just a single-sided print.

SHU

How did you get into zine making?
I only got into zines quite recently. All the street artists and urbex photographers I'm friends with were doing it, and I was super keen to give it a go. At the time, I had been working on this little character called Monstery, and had been getting her out (on the streets) loads — that first zine I made was a kind of record of what Monstery had been doing that past year. It was a good excuse to get it all together, edit my own work and figure out where to go next with it.

Describe your zine style in five words.
Cute, quirky, adventure, illustration and street art.

What's your favourite thing about zine making?
What I love about zine making is actually the same thing I love about street art — that is, the sentiment that you don't need anyone's approval to show the world your work. I think it is really important for people not to wait for someone else to tell them that their art, photographs or writing is good enough to be published. If you believe in it, put it out there.

AKISIEW

How did you get into zine making?
I can't remember exactly, but my first zine that I bought was actually made by an artist called Mel Kadel who lives in LA. I fell in love with it and the way she had used zine making as a way of experimenting with her work and creating a narrative to her work. I had lots of half made stories in my head and in sketchbooks which I wanted to express both in words and illustrations, and zine-making is the perfect medium to do that.

Describe your zine style in five words.
Cute, narrative driven, illustrative.

What's your favourite thing about zine making?
That there are so many topics that you can explore and so many different ways to create a story with paper. They are just so expressive and the fact that each and every one is handmade by the artist makes them so very special. They are made for the love of making them and sharing them over anything else.

MCA's Zine Fair is happening June 11 and 12 from 10am-6pm. Entry is free.