For a publishing house that started nearly 40 years ago, Roli Books has only got younger. With their concept store CMYK, they have gathered books, quirky stationary, gift items and even furniture (the Pantone chairs). At the core of CMYK is a deep love for books, especially art and illustrated books that are repositories of heritage, style, design, art, cuisine, lifestyle, photography and so much more. To which any one who has ever been to their store will agree. In times when children are being raised on an iPad, CMYK has managed to open 8 stores around the country. When Dextra got a chance to do a collaboration with them, we requested them for a list of books on art+ design. What we got was a huge list of books to choose from. (Now what else would you expect from one of the most successful mid-sized publishing houses of the country anyway). But we did succeed in cutting down to 5 must have coffee table books this summer. So you might be more into art or architecture, there is one for every one out there.
NEW DELHI – MAKING OF A CAPITAL – by Malvika Singh, Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Pramod Kapoor.
Pic courtesy: Roli Books
PUKKA INDIAN 100 objects that define India – Jhanvi Lakhota Nandan
Pic courtesy: Roli Books
In India, to understand objects in terms of design one has to re-imagine design itself. Design in India is not entirely determined by the aesthetic appeal of the object, but by the significance of the object in everyday life, and is often influenced by its users. In some instances, the age-old practices established by ancient Indian wisdom determine the design of an object, such as the datun (neem tree twig) recommended for oral care or agarbatti (incense) used to heal and protect. On the other hand, the lota (a kind of metal pot) has been a part of everyday Indian life for centuries and its design remains unchanged even today. Pukka Indian or Purely Indian brings together hundred objects that are the most coveted symbols representing Indian culture and design. This illustrated book celebrates the diversity, versatility, vibrancy, and colours of design icons – ranging from kulhad to the kolhapuri chappal, Nano to the Nehru jacket, and auto rickshaw meter to the Ambassador – that set them apart in a country as multifarious as India. Each of these hundred profiles compliments the intrinsically Indian nature of every object, and how they have impacted design, culture and, in turn, every Indian.
Still looking for more? Then go ahead and browse through these Coffee table books for your home.
BOMBAY THEN AND MUMBAI NOW – Naresh Fernandes, Jim Masselos
Pic courtesy: Roli Books
Bombay Then – Enriched with in-depth historical research and exclusive photographs, Bombay Then documents the transformation of the once ‘insignificant cluster of islets’ into one of the most exciting spots for cultural exchange in South Asia. Among other views, the book illustrates the Mankeshwar temple and the Rajabai Clock Tower wrapped in scaffolding; the construction of Victoria Dock and the opening of its massive underwater gates; a lush and sparsely populated Malabar Hill; a rare view of the interior of a Parsi fire temple; factory scenes inside the Royal Mint and the Times of India units; what the stock exchange looked like nearly a century ago; and many breath-taking aerial shots of this beautiful island-city. Bombay Then is a sheer visual treat through extraordinary historical photographs. Mumbai Now – India’s financial nerve centre and biggest port – is a melting pot with a population of over fifteen million. Bursting at the seams, the crowded, pulsating city is not just a city of gold but also a city of dreams – it is home to the Hindi film industry, also known as Bollywood. Mumbai Now captures the city’s chaotic but spirited and robust present, and brings this shape-shifting, elusive city to you – from the stories of the first Goan migrants to the lives of native Koli fishermen; from the tradition of dabbawalas to that of ‘cutting’ chai; and from the potters in Dharavi to the pink flamingos in Sewri – in a series of beautiful, moving pictures that capture the many moods and faces of Mumbai.
LOOKING BEYOND Graphics Of Satyajit Ray – Jayanti Sen
Pic courtesy: Roli Books
Looking Beyond: Graphics of Satyajit Ray provides an overview of the immense body of work that constitutes renowned Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s graphic designs. A consummate artist from his early years, Ray designed more than 5,500 book covers, posters, advertisement layouts, and film titles. The book tries to delve into the depths of the artist’s psyche to recreate the magic of a wonderful genius in both images and words. Ray is one of the few filmmakers in the world to have not just directed films but also created immortal musical scores for them. The author evaluates Ray’s genius by researching material available about him by maestros of Indian art like Paritosh Sen, Raghunath Goswamy, Dr Ranen Ayan Dutt, Purnendu Pattrea, and others. Among the special features of the book are exclusive interviews with artists Sandip Ray, O.C. Ganguly, and Shibshankar Bhattacharya, which provide invaluable insight into Ray’s artistic creations. Ray collectors all over India have opened their vaults to contribute rare gems of design to make this book truly a collector’s item.
DELHI: Redfort To Raisana– JP Losty, Salman Khurshid, Ratish Nanda, Malvika Singh
Pic courtesy: Roli Books
Delhi: Red Fort to Raisina traces the journey of Shahjahan’s new capital of the Mughal Empire; Shahjahanabad built on the banks of river Yamuna in 1638 to New Delhi the new capital of British-ruled India in 1911. From Red Fort to Jama Masjid and from Jahanara Bagh to Hayat Bakhsh Bagh, every palace, mosque, bazaar, and bagh in the Mughal city was planned to perfection. The new city too, designed in the early twentieth century, was a blend of Mughal architecture and modern aesthetics. This book celebrates the centenary with four essays on different aspects of Delhi’s history by JP Losty, Salman Khurshid, Ratish Nanda, and Malvika Singh. A lively portrait of the city and its culture and people, the book documents the transition of the old-world charm of Shahjahanabad to a modern city with a new seat of power built on the Raisina Hill.
So get those typical CHANEL & LOIUS VUTTON coffee table books out and say namaste to these Indian flavoured books that not only will add character to your space but provide you facts that are more closer to your roots. You can find all of them on their CMYK online store or one of their shops. Do follow us on our Instagram page to see some more interesting pictures out of these books or follow us on our Facebook page.
