Chennai gallery Kannadi Cupboard hosts a ebook honest for self-published work

Every 12 months, the sprawling grounds of YMCA in Nandanam come alive with the Chennai Book Fair. The annual occasion sees a footfall of 1000’s daily, and is a platform for conventional publishers to achieve out to readers throughout genres and ages. This weekend, a quieter various to the bustling occasion is ready to unfold at a gallery area in Tambaram for the whole lot self-published.

Kannadi Cupboard is ready to host Padithavudan Kizhithuvidavum, its first ebook honest for self-published work. Prasanna Venkatesh, who put collectively the area alongside along with his sibling Keerthana Alageshan, says that the honest might be “on the diametrically wrong way of the standard ebook honest, the place the whole lot is completed by the artist or a self-publishing home”.

The occasion can have 15 stalls displaying not simply books, however photograph books, zines, illustrated comics, and artist books by small non-traditional publishing homes in addition to the creators who’ve put the work collectively. Names embody Blaft Publications from Chennai, Rainy Day Studio, Chennai, Editions Jojo from Mumbai, Luru journal from Bengaluru, and Untitled Kitchen, aside from Sriram Rajkumar, Malvika M, and Aparna Sibi.

Getting a stall allotted at a standard ebook honest is just not straightforward for small, self-publishing corporations or artists, factors out Prasanna. “Whereas right here, the whole lot is easy. You get to indicate your work, which individuals can purchase. It’s the work that issues,” he says, including that pricing too might be such that it’s a win-win for each the creator and the customer. “Zines, as an illustration, might be priced from ₹200 onwards to ₹600, which is simple on the pocket for the individual making the zine and the one who’s shopping for it,” he says. “They are in a position to specific themselves, and get their work throughout to folks and strike a dialog.”

The format of the works on show too, Prasanna says, won’t essentially observe a definitive construction that conventional publishers anticipate. “Some are self-expression the place they go on to write down so much; some others have correct story strains; whereas some are simply pictures.”

The honest can have books displayed on mats on the ground like in a sandhai, the place folks can stroll by to seat themselves, decide up a ebook and discuss to the creator. Prasanna says that the ebook honest might be a yearly affair, one that can deliver collectively the most effective of self-expression in a format that’s accessible and grounded.

Padithavudan Kizhithuvidavum — A self printed ebook honest is on from September 19 to 21, Kannadi Cupboard Gallery, Tambaram. Entry is free and is open to all. For particulars, go to them on Instagram @kannadicupboard