Truck Art is possibly the most well-known and captivating form of regional art in Pakistan and South Asia. Trucks trundling down highways with beautiful floral motifs and calligraphy are a familiar sight. When they served American troops and contractors in Afghanistan, these decorated trucks earned the nickname "jingle trucks." The phrase, however, may have originated during the British colonial period. Due to the jingling sound of chains hanging from truck bumpers, this term was formed.
These trucks are custom-decorated by their owners and can cost thousands of dollars. Because the drivers may be away from home for months at a period, it is usual for the trucks to have aspects that remind them of home. Trucks are adorned with paintings, the most popular of which are gorgeous views of Pakistan's Northern Areas. Calligraphy is fundamental to the art and lends it its distinct taste. Almost every surface is adorned with intricate mirror work, and the doors are frequently wood carved. Historical scenes are frequently depicted, and poetry, often funny, plays a prominent role. As if that wasn't enough, the front and back bumpers are adorned with chains and pendants. At a coaching workshop, all of this is done.
Haider Ali, one of Pakistan's most well-known truck artists, was taught the technique by his father. In 2002, he won a prize for painting a vehicle at the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival.
In Pakistan, Karachi is the main center for truck art, but Rawalpindi, Swat, Peshawar, Quetta, and Lahore are all known for it. Wood carvings are used to decorate trucks in Baluchistan and Peshawar, whereas plastic art is more frequent in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Sindhi Truck Art features a particular style of camel bone work set against a bold red background. The slogans and poetry that virtually always adorn the vehicles alter with the region's socio-political climate. In Urdu, this art is known as Phool Patti.
The popularity of Truck Art may be shown in the fact that these designs have spread beyond vehicles to include other products. Truck Art has starting to be applied to automobiles. This ancient technique was used to decorate the Foxy Shehzadi, a 1974 VW Beatle, in 2009. It is noted for taking only twenty-five days to go from Pakistan to France. Taxis adorned in this manner have begun to run on the streets of Mumbai. This work has also been increasingly inspiring to fashion designers. In 2015, Truck Art was prominently featured in the Dolce & Gabbana marketing presentations. These designs can also be found in women's apparel from the East and the West.
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