Thursday 27 February 2014

Truck Art - Pakistan



Truck art of Pakistan has gain fame worldwide. The buses and trucks are highly decorated and customized. The art includes painting, calligraphy, poetic verses, plastic work and carving. Trucks are decorated according to the taste of owners.

Paintings of many national heroes, sports man, movies heroes, myths, beautiful baby girls and boys, animals and women are seen. Moreover these trucks have striking fresh and full of life colors. It is just like painting masterpieces running on the roads.  Many people from Pakistan went in International fares and competitions and won by showing excellent skills to decorate their vehicles.

A truck is decorated in nearly $3,000 to $5,000. But the wages of these artists are very small. Perhaps these artists are portraying their wishes and desires on trucks –wishes that cannot be fulfilled because of their small earnings. Often birds are painted that were flying in open air. These pictures are not only showing great art but also indicate the thinking of the painter that wants to touch the sky. God knows well he want to touch the sky by getting fame and appreciation of his work or he wants to earn enough so he can live a free peaceful life.

Many families are linked with this art and are doing this from their ancestors. But according to the current situation they are thinking to leave or to switch to some other business as there is no support from government and the wages paid are very small as compared to their work.


On the other hand some fashion designers in South Asia have also used the same technique and style of folk art work in their dresses and cloths. Some use the technique in furniture and many craft men have started creating same art form on home accessories. So this unique decor art from roads is brought straight into our houses.


This art form was originally created in Pakistan and there are some organizations that are dedicated for the preservation of this form of art. So this art may live alive in fabrics and other interior decoration pieces but the survival of art creators will be difficult because of the ignorance of people and non supportive behavior of the government.

12 comments:

  1. One of its own kind. The Pakistani truck art reflecting the colorful and cheerful Pakistani culture. Thanks for sharing-highlighting this beautiful aspect of Pakistan.

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  2. No doubt they are doing great work and it should be appreciated the way you did it over here. At the same time I would request that we should not look always to the Government to appreciate them or support them. We as society should also take step forward and do something for them. Fahim Khan

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    1. Thank you Fahim for your participation. You are right in saying that as a nation we must save our culture / art and heritage.

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  3. yesterday shafaq i went to a market and there were a lot of home accessories from china and i saw a lot truck art on them even it was carved in metallic form like pakistani trucks.. believe me i was thinking to take a picture and send you but alas i forgot

    want to say that china has already adopted the skill... art will never die... but our craftsmen will surely will.. some day

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  4. Hi Anna
    Thanks for sharing this. Isn't it a shame that when so many look to add beauty, we allow the few to destroy it with hate. I hope these artists will continue to brighten the lives of those around them Thanks.
    Lenie

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    1. Thank you Lenie
      This is problem with the world that rich is getting richer and poor getting poorer.. I hope that world will have a balance some day.

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  5. Truck art looks very neat. I think if downtown trolleys in places here did that it would attract more tourism.

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    1. Hello HJM
      Yes you are right about that it can help attract tourism. It is indeed very neat and beautiful.

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  6. This is a fascinating article. I didn't know about this truck art until I recently saw a film from Pakistan called Dukhtar by filmmaker Afia Nathaniel which featured just such a truck. It was so beautiful and it's colors stood out from the stark landscape. I had no idea this was a form of art. Thanks for expanding my knowledge about this tradition.

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    1. Hello John
      This is taken as art in Pakistan and many are related to this work for their livelihood. It was nice that you saw this in movie, I hope you like that movie too.

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  7. Hi Anna,
    This truck art is amazing. It shows how people of this land love to art. I don't think these artists want to have any grant from the government but they demand good economic policies. Once the business will flourish they will start spreading colors of happiness & joy

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