PAKISTAN POPULAR CULTURE

TRUCK ART
Introduction
Pakistan is a culturally rich country because of its centuries-old histo-
ry and influences of many civilizations. Art and culture of Pakistan are
unique and carries traditions from the past which are being admired
all around the world.
One of the most known arts of Pakistan is called as the “Truck Art”.
Trucks are not only used for the object’s delivery purposes but in
South Asian Region Which include Afghanistan and Pakistan, trucks
are being decorated with bright paints, mirrors, bells, chains, motifs of
(birds, flowers, famous personalities, animals, fish), glittery sheets,
stickers, battery-operated lights, small bells, jangling chains, bead-
work and woodwork. It is believed that truck art started in the 1900s.
It is assumed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) is the birthplace of this
elaborate art form. The truck designs reflect similarities to various art
styles evolving out of the colonial period of India and creating an
amalgamation of various ideas and styles of that time.
Truck art is a folk art which represents the dreams, inspirations, hob-
bies, the imagination of the Pakistanis and the painters. It also shows
the close bond of the truck is decorated mainly with paintings on the
various topics which are placed in a pattern. The decoration pieces
are often the glitziest part of a fully Pakistani truck. The decoration
piece is an important part of the truck also the most eye-catching
part of the vehicle.
Truck Drivers
As far as the drivers or truck owners are concerned, these decorations on decades old
trucks are more about pride. The art represents their hometowns and makes their
vehicles superior to those which are less decorated. One might say that they spend
more time deciding colours and animals than they do on the road. Drivers say that a
truck with a large crown and the best decoration finds more clients than one with less
decorations or without any art. Owners spend so much on decorations that it amounts
to about 50 percent of the vehicle’s value. Truck driver, Haji Ali Bahadur, a resident of
the FATA region, says that green and yellow have been his colours for the past 40
years as a driver. He said
“We, the drivers of Khyber, Mohmand and other tribal regions like flowers on the edge
of the vehicles while the people of Swat, South Waziristan and Kashmir region like
portraits of mountains and different wild animals.”
Truck art is considered one of Pakistan’s most known cultural exports and is helping in
growing the toy and furniture industries. With new markets opening up to Pakistani
products, truck art might soon find new fans in countries where it’s still to make an
impact.

Truck Art and Poetry

The poetry on the trucks is also inspired by cultural and popular ideas. On every truck
they usually wrote lines on its back, which a person can read and enjoy while driving
behind the truck. The owner or the driver according to their taste usually chooses the
poetry. The poetry or the one-liners are part of the entire decoration of the truck art
and design. There are artists who sit and design these one-liners or the popular
poetry, which is expressing usually emotions, idea or view to its readers about the
truck drivers.¬
When the truck is either driving on the highways or in the city for loading and unload-
ing the things, the people get amazed to see the detailed artwork on the walls of the
truck. Each truck is having a different theme and each part is filled with the Imagina-
tion of the artists.
Some amusing and witty lines that will definitely bring a smile to your face.
“Maalik ki gaadi driver ka paseena. Chalti hai road par ban kar haseena.”
(The car belongs to the owner; is the hard-work and sweat of the driver; but
drives around like the queen of the road.)
“Dekh magar pyaar se”
(Look, but only with love)
“Fasla rakhen warna pyar ho jaega”
(Keep your distance or you’ll fall in love)
The Artists
Many people involve in designing of truck as every part of it has to be deco-
rated and crafted in different ways. Every kind part has to be decorative. The
person responsible for visualizing the whole idea is known as ustad who
works with other members(shagrid) and they worked under their ustads.
They decorated the whole truck according to the ideas of the owner of the
truck and its driver. As many different ustads and shagird are putting their
heart and soul in its creation
Truck art is popular because of the hard work and artistry of the painters.
The painters spend many hours in decorating the truck. Haji Habib Ur
Rehman is the first known Truck Art painter of Pakistan. He started painting
the truck in 1950’s and is still working in the same field until today.
At the age of 72, he still enjoys his work and is very determined.
Truck Art involves the representation of emotions, passion, love, and care for
their trucks. The truck drivers have to travel for many days nonstop on the
highways. It is difficult for a human being to stay alone and quiet for long
days and the distance for their homes, family, and children makes them dif-
ferent from a person who is living a normal job live in the city or the village
life of a villager.
Haider Ali is a Pakistani painter best known for his work as a truck artist.
Around the world, he has painted murals, structures, benches, and trucks
in the distinctive truck art style of Pakistan.
Truck driver Faheem talked about how truck drivers overcome their inner
loneliness by creating a strong bond with their truck. It is like a home to
them.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s ‘truck art’ is now a Popular and unique “Art” of the world. It is
being praised all over the world by different nationalities. Truck Art Has
been used as a theme by many Fashion designers, Industrialist, Transport
Companies, Clothing Function for the selling of their products. People of
various parts of Pakistan communicate with each other and also discover
what is common and what is different among them through this popular
truck art. Truck art is a mixture of different art forms. The most important
thing about truck art is that it is still maintains its historical values of our
land. The master(ustad)and the team(shagrids) are playing important role
in preserving our cultural history.