The four colours of ink used in the traditional method of printing hard copies are cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black). This colour mixing term, known as CMYK, is also now the name of Delhi’s first-ever art and design bookstore. Set in the relatively subdued Meherchand Market (behind India Habitat Centre), CMYK threw open its doors for the first time on Wednesday evening.

Roli Books’ Priya Kapoor explained the idea behind the bookstore. “Delhi has so many general bookstores, yet not a single one dedicated to art and design,” she said. “The idea is to open up a new genre and also respond to the demands of enthusiasts across the city.”

Kapoor also said that CMYK will have books from all publishers.

One thing impossible to miss about CMYK is the ingenuity with which it has used space. Though not very large, the bookstore creates an environment of openness and intimacy, contradictory features cherished by the serious book browser.

Daniel Elliott, an American living in Delhi, said, “I’m happy that Delhi finally has a bookstore dedicated to art and design, like many other great cities of the world. The collection needs to grow with time.”

But for a first day, it was impressive. Books by Phaidon, the leading publishers of visual art books, dominated the shelves. Phaidon’s city guides were charming little books with pictures and information about cities as far-flung as Budapest, Bilbao and Auckland. There was a substantial section on Delhi as well as numerous works of the photographer Raghu Rai, while Andy Warhol stared at you from the other end of the room.

... contd.