For most people in the world, CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key – the four colours essential in printing. However, for every book lover living in India, it means much, much more. Simply said, CMYK has pretty much revolutionised the idea of a typical “bookstore” in the country, you know, with shelves of fiction and non-fiction and normally, a separate area for Indian authors, things like that. It doesn’t have your typical 50 Shades or the seven books of Harry Potter et al, oh no.
An initiative by the Roli Books, it’s a concept bookstore that focuses on art and design books from famous publishers such as Phaidon, Thames & Hudson, Laurence King, Antique Collector’s Club, Tate Museum, British Museum, Abrams, Skira, Braun, and many more.
And you know the best part about CMYK right now (apart from all the amazing, drool worthy creative books they have there)?
The book sale happens every year for one month.
CMYK has an annual sale to make books accessible to everyone and anyone who hasn’t been able to afford them. From poetry to design the store has an enviable collection of rare books. It also boasts of an impressive funky collection of coasters, postcards, diaries and what not.
Here’s a list of our favourites from the CMYK book sale.
1. Around India in 80 Trains
By Monisha Rajesh
Genre: Adventure, Fiction, Travel
Price: Rs 295, 251
Around India in 80 Trains is the story of Monisha and her family, who return to India from Sheffield in 1991. However, they are unable to adjust to the challenges of living in a country like India and head back to Sheffield. Twenty years later, Monisha heads back to discover her country to embark on a 40,000 km journey in the infamous trains of India. She meets a wide variety of people, and bears to witness countless interesting events.
For more details, check this out.
2. India Contemporary Design; Fashion, Graphics and Interiors
By Divia Patel
Genre: Art and Design
Price: Rs 1495,1,271
This one’s for all the designers out there. The period from 2000-2008 has been a formative one for our country. It brought India to the center stage of the world. Globalization leads to political and economic changes in any country. This book studies the response of the Indian design community to this changing landscape. A must read for every designer and creative head.
You’d want to read more here.
3. Delhi 360 Degree
By JP Losty
Genre: Art History
Price: Rs 1495 1,271
Paintings have always been the oldest form of documentation. Delhi 360 Degree or more commonly known as “The Delhi Panorama” is a painting made by the famous topographical artist Mazhar Ali Khan. It captures a panoromical view of Shahjanabad (present day Chandini Chowk) with enormous amount of detail and precision. The real painting is five metres long, and is preserved in the British Library in London since 1981. This is the first time that the entire painting has been published, along with the Urdu and Persian inscriptions on it. The book contains essays and commentary which put the painting in historical and artistic context. A true delight for any art and history lover.
For more, be sure to go here.
4. Andy Warhol Catalogue Raisonné, Paintings And Sculptures 1964–1969
Genre: Graphic Design
Price: Rs 47,340 40, 239
Every creative person knows who Andy Warhol is. The creator of pop art, the master of graphic deisgn, filmmaking, advertising, performance art and what not. This book is the second in the series of his complete artworks.
If you want to know more about it, this is where you need to go!
5. Draping, The Complete Course
By: Karolyn Kiisel
Genre: Fashion
Price: Rs.3998 3,399
Draping is an essential tool valuable to every fashion designer. It allows you to experiment your designs directly on a mannequin. In this book, Karolyn explains the process step by step, and teaches the basics of draping, followed by some advanced techniques. Each skill and technique throughout the book is explained through step-by-step photographs and line drawings that aid to the process of learning this beautiful art.
For more click, you can go over here.
6. An Unknown Treasure In Rajasthan: The Bundi Wall-Paintings
By : Milo C Beach, Hilde Lauwaert
Genre: Art
Price: Rs 2995 2,546
Rajasthan is filled with cultural treasures of India. Bundi is an isolated town in Rajasthan, which houses some of the finest palaces of our country. These palaces haven’t been open to the public until very recently. In this book, the author talks about the wall paintings of Bundi through a spectacular photographic survey. Most of these paintings have been published for the first time. The paintings depict the daily lives in the courts of Bundi.
You can click this to find out more.
7. Chop, Sizzle, Wow: The Silver Spoon Comic Cookbook
By: Tara Stevens
Genre: Food, Cooking
Price: Rs 1,362 1,158
Cooking and comics sure sounds like a fun combination. This is the first Italian cook book in a comic style. Buy this one for some amazing Italian recipes and great illustrations!
For more information, you should head over here.
8. Typography Sketchbooks
By Steven Heller and Lita Talarico
Genre: Typography, design
Price: Rs 2105 1,459
This ones a must read for all the type fanatics out there. The book talks about the the process and thought behind creating and communicating through type by 120 of the worlds leading deisgners. It gives fascinating into insights into their work. It shares how they keep the beauty of the written world alive in time full of visual clutter.
For more details, you should head here.
9. The Famous Ghalib
By Ralph Russell
Genre: Poetry
Price: Rs 295 251
Any poetry lover knows the works of Ghalib. However, not many of us actually understand the true meaning and messages of his beautiful Urdu poetry. In the second edition of his book, Russell explain the works of Ghalib , how and why it inspired a century of Urdu speakers. It explains the methodology and form in which Ghalib wrote, and his use of symbolism. It contains over 200 couplets, which are translated from Urdu and explained in detail. The translations are concise and bring out the beauty of Ghalib’s words.
For more click here.
10. The Secret Garden
By Johana Basford
Genre: Art, Colouring
Price: Rs 695
Even though this one’s not on sale, we couldn’t resist adding this. Take our word for it, it really is worth opening your wallet for. One of the finest from the CMYK’s adult colouring book collection, The Secret Garden is a black and white wonderland. It’s filled with beautiful illustrations and creatures waiting to be filled with colour!
Head to the CMYK sale and grab these! Which ones of these are you dying to get your hands on?
