Beenest, a bi-annual magazine with an emphasis on the fine arts and the performing arts, was officially launched at the Oxford Bookstore in Delhi’s Connaught Place on 5 July 2025. An independent print and digital initiative, Beenest’s core editorial team comprises Jaspreet Kaur, founder and editor-in-chief; Zubair Sofi, co-founder and managing editor; and Sehan Sagar Shetty, co-founder and sports editor.
Each article of Beenest aims to present a contemporary take on the defining role of design in today’s cultural space. The magazine reports on the key themes of heritage and tradition, people and personalities, landscape and places, and expression and arts through a visually rich imagery, poetic prose, and scholarly depth.
The launch event featured a panel discussion on ‘Craft Futures: Can Tradition Survive the Algorithm’ where visual artist Aarti Uppal Singla, visual inventor Douglas Cyrus, and architect, archivist and artist Khushroo Kalyanwala discussed and debated on the role of digital tools, social media and artificial intelligence in providing cultural visibility for artisans and handmade traditions.
Jaspreet Kaur told Indian Printer & Publisher, “Beenest was born from a desire to resist the erasure of craft and reclaim the depth, dignity, and dialog behind handmade traditions. Rooted in the legacy of the shilpi – the artisan-philosopher of ancient India – it is a space for slow storytelling, where culture, craft, memory, and materiality intersect.
“With each issue, we hope to challenge the binaries of art and craft, tradition and modernity, utility and beauty. Beenest embraces print not just as a format, but as a gesture of care and permanence – an invitation to pause, hold, and reflect in a world that too often scrolls past,” she said.
The inaugural issue of Beenest dated May 2025 is priced at Rs 550
