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Pakistani artists have found a new medium for the traditional craft of painting on trucks — by transferring the images on items of everyday use
Lanterns, mugs, cups, kettles and jugs painted in colourful floral patterns are just a few examples of Pakistan’s well-known truck art tradition that were showcased by an NGO from the country that participated in the recently-concluded annual Dastkari Haat Samiti festival in New Delhi. Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi, an NGO that promotes education among children, showcased the traditional craft of painting on trucks — by transferring the images on items of everyday use — during the festival at the Dilli Haat that concluded in the first week of January. “Pakistani truck art is about cultural history and tradition, storytelling and passion, and has elements of political and national life, religious symbols and images. It is very popular back home and the reason for bringing this art here is to introduce the concept to the Indian people,” she adds. Truck Art is an ingenious Pakistani tradition that started way back in the early 1920s when, to beat competition, transportation companies hired craftsmen to adorn their trucks with artworks in the hope that these moving canvases would attract more custom. The craftsmen would adorn trucks with colourful floral patterns, calligraphy of poetic verses and “driver’s words of wisdom”, as also images of popular politicians and actors, a tradition that continues till this day. According to Khan, each area of Pakistan has different truck art sensibilities and unique story-telling abilities. “Each province in Pakistan has its own distinct style of truck painting. While Sindh is famous for its camel-bone work, the artists of Rawalpindi and Islamabad prefer to work with plastic. Be it the materials or the colours used, the overall image that is depicted represents our cultural history and heritage,” adds Khan Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja, who, along with his wife, shopped for these items, was totally impressed with this art form. “They are so colourful and vibrant that they easily catch your attention. We purchased lanterns and mugs. We wanted a bigger kettle, but it was already sold out. So we had to settle for a smaller one,” says Jadeja.
— IANS
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“The items we brought here were painted by children to whom we provide education. They were very much liked by the people here and most of our stuff was sold out. We were not expecting this response. It has exceeded our expectations,” says Kiran Khan, coordinator,
Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi. 