Three Brisbane Zines for a Literary Lover

Zines are self-published works that reject the mainstream media and shout ‘I can do it myself’. They are driven by passion instead of profit, with makers pasting the things they really want to say across photocopied pages. Zines ditch the global and turn our eyes to the local. Why seek greener pastures when there is a mossy cornucopia of content right here in your own backyard? Here are three local zine-makers who are bringing you the latest art, literature, and poetry from Brisbane.

Concrescence

Concrescence shines a light on emerging writers and poets. Co-editors, Chloe Mills and Raelee Lancaster pair poetry and art lovingly, creating a publication that feels like a best friend, who confides in you their innermost stories of love, loss and frustration. Concrescence, in combination with the Tundish Review and Pastel, have made a home for a lively community of poets. They can be found in Brisbane bars hosting launch events, where published poets perform their work and network with other writers.

You can pick up a copy of Concrescence at their launch events or on their online store. Follow them on Instagram or Twitter.

Image supplied: Inkblot Magazine

Inkblot Magazine

Conceived in the circles of a community writing club in February this year, Inkblot is a fresh literature zine coming onto the scene. The creators refer to Inkblot as ‘an indescribable conflation of disparate elements’ that extend beyond the confines of your typical zine. And boy do they deliver. On top of profound prose, Inkblot features tear-out Tabletop RPGs (role playing games), obscure literary crosswords and mandala-esque illustrations that look like a Hermann Rorschach wet dream.

So far, Inkblot Magazine comes in Hot & Sweaty and Cold & Soggy Editions. Delicious. You can grab a physical or digital copy from their online store. Follow them on Instagram or Facebook.

Image supplied: Ibis Zine

Ibis Zine

IBIS is a free zine that you won’t find picking through bins for a snack. You will, however, find it in unusual places around the streets of Brisbane. Curated by a team of editors – Rhiana, Jamie, Jack and Seamus –, IBIS is a magnificent mishmash of stories, poems, drawings, photographs and political commentary. The team started IBIS to ‘create an accepting, open platform for anyone who wanted to share their creativity with the community’ and they publish on a ‘when we get our shit together’ basis. Inside you will find content with a distinctive Brisbane flavour, including armies of bin chickens, photographs of old Queenslanders and an illustration of a woman in her bedroom masturbating to a Brisbane City Guide exclaiming ‘I-I-I’ve got a B-B-Brisboner’.

IBIS is on hiatus at the moment but keep an eye on their Instagram and Facebook for submission callouts. You can email them at ibismagazine@gmail.com if you want to get your hands on a copy.

Image supplied: Ibis Zine

Image (+ cover image) supplied: Ibis Zine