What is a zine?
A zine (pronounced "zeen"; short for magazine or fanzine) is a small-circulation self-published work of original texts and images. Zines are made either by a single person or a very small group of people, and are usually photocopied into physical prints for circulation.
Why did you make this zine?
One of my Art Teaching lecturer at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) asked our class to create zines with the theme "en route" to describe our experience at NAFA so far.
en route
To mean; "during the course of a journey; on the way". This is a little walk-through of my zine, to show you the thought process that went into it.
I gave my zine the subtitle "a journey of self-discovery", because I feel that I have been learning a lot about myself through the past semester at NAFA.
Page 2 - "How do I learn to overcome my fear of failure and take more risks?
This page depicts one of the Skylight rooms in NAFA - this one in particular was where I had all of my Pedagogy Practices lessons.
I remember that day, the sunlight was streaming in through the skylight windows, and formed these beautiful shapes of shadows and light on the walls. I took a photo to capture the moment, and that photo became the reference image for this page.
Page 3 - "GPA might be an abstract concept but sweet treats are tangible and get me through tough days."
I would often bring sweet treats to class (chocolate was a favourite choice of mine) and these snacks would give me that little bit of additional motivation to complete my in-class assignments.
Page 4 and 5 - "What do I want my art to say?"
As these would be the middle pages of the zine, I wanted them to be a joint spread. I chose to create little frames, and recreate artworks from local artists that we learnt during our first semester of our Art Teaching course.
Can you name a few of the artists/titles of the artworks in this spread? (*Answers at the end of this post.)
In learning about these pioneers of Nanyang Art, I looked inward to consider what exactly it is that I want to portray in my own art.
Page 6 - "Community // Co-learning // Collaboration"
This page is a recreation of a photo of me with my classmates/friends that was taken on a visit to the National Gallery Singapore. I had a lot of fun on that visit - my favourite part of that day was visiting the Keppel Education Centre as it made my inner child really happy.
The text is a nod to the things I feel are most important in the classroom:
Creating a community that supports each other
Allowing co-learning opportunities
And fostering collaboration efforts
Page 7 - "What does authenticity mean to me?"
I've visited the Peranakan Museum so many times already, but I never tire of it. Especially since its special exhibition changes often. The teapots depicted on this page are from the museum.
Authenticity is something that I highly value. It is an ongoing practice of embracing your genuine self. It is not about perfection but about accepting and showing up as you are, making choices that reflect your true self, and inviting others to do the same.
Authenticity in art is intentional in its motivation to convey the unfiltered expression of an artist’s unique perspective. It pushes boundaries and shows vulnerability in a way that often sparks emotional or intellectual responses that feel rooted in something beyond mere aesthetics.
Back Cover - Where to find me on various platforms.
Fun fact: There is a ghost of an image on this page that is actually an aerial map of NAFA, to really tie in the theme of "en route." After all, this school will be where I'll be continuing my journey of self-discovery.
I hope you enjoyed this little walk-through of my labour of love. Thank you for listening to me yap about all the little details I've included on these pages. I'd love to connect with you on Instagram. If you have any questions about NAFA's Art Teaching, I'd be happy to answer them in the comments section below!
(*Answers for Page 4 and 5 - by order of appearance:
Top row, left to right - "Self Portrait" by Georgette Chen, "Drying Salted Fish" by Cheong Soo Pieng, "Peace" by Choo Keng Kwang.
Bottom row, left to right - "Gratitude" by Lim Tze Peng, "Front vs Back" by Wee Beng Chong, "Gibbons" by Chen Wen Hsi.)
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