-ism: to determine or identify the essential qualities or meaning of whatever defines us as human.
In the making of this zine, I learned quite a few things:
1. I learned a little about art and a lot about people.
There’s something deeply human about our instinct to categorize life through -isms, as a way to understand and define our place in the world.
From the start, I knew I wanted to create a zine with a raw, human touch. The writing explores various -isms, while the imagery reflects how artists visually attempt to understand the human experience.
2. I learned that the grid is sacred.
Instead of seeing the grid as limiting, I began to understand it as a tool that elevated the elements within (sorry, David Carson). It became the bridge between a chaotic, creative mind and a more refined, intentional one. Using the grid felt like explaining the rules of a game to someone—and watching them instantly get it. There’s real creative freedom in structure.
3. I learned that printing and binding a really big book isn’t easy.
One of the biggest lessons I learned through creating -ism was that printing and binding a large-format book by hand is anything but easy. What seemed like a straightforward task quickly became a test of patience and precision. I had my fair share of printer errors, late nights, and glue in places glue doesn’t belong.
