Truck art in South Asia

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A typical decorated truck in Pakistan; most Pakistani trucks have an augmented rooftop to increase space for decoration Pakistani truck.jpg
A typical decorated truck in Pakistan; most Pakistani trucks have an augmented rooftop to increase space for decoration
A decorated truck in India.jpg
Artwork on a Rajasthan truck rear view (detail).jpg
Front and rear view of two trucks in India, showing detail of various decorative symbols used in Indian truck art

Truck art in South Asia is a popular form of regional decoration, with trucks featuring elaborate floral patterns and calligraphy. [1] [2] It is especially common in Pakistan.

Contents

During the War in Afghanistan, Pakistani decorated trucks that ran services between Pakistan and Afghanistan came to be known as jingle trucks by American troops and contractors who were deployed across the latter country.

History and origin

The concept of decorating transportation and vehicles goes back to Indus valley civilization era, where people used different items for decorations on transportation, [3] [ dubious – discuss ] in Sindh the art of transportation decoration is very ancient, back in time the wooden traditional Sindhi boats were beautifully carved with amazing designs and patterns, small mirrors were applied on it, the ivory inlaid, metal bells, Ghungroo, Phundra, beads, shells, colors and metal plates with dotted designs were used on boats and carts. The domestic animals used for different carts are also adorned with different jewelries which are specially made for these animals, Sindhis are very fond of decorating their domestic animals and spend alot of money for it, such jewelries are usually made of different metals but Silver and gold is also used. Another art of transportation decoration is camel hair cut, the camels were common in allover Sindh, the locals cut the hair on its skin in different floral designs and geometric patterns, and apply henna and black color. [3] [4] [5] [6]

SukkurHolz.jpg
Traditional Sindhi handmade wooden boats with carvings and Ivory or elephant tooth designs and mirrors, made and used by Mohana
SukkurIndus.jpg
Close look on the carvings and mirrorwork on the Sindhi boats.
PkSukkurIndusBoote3.jpg
Woodcarving, metal petals with dotted design and mirrors on Sindhi boats.

In early 20th century during British Raj the modern transportation like trucks were introduced in Sindh, in Karachi "General motors" first introduced trucks in 1930s, the locals started decorating these trucks, after partition Karachi became the biggest city and was hub of truck art. [3]

The concept of truck art itself generally goes back to the 1920s during British rule over South Asia. [7] [8] However, it wasn't until the 1950s in Karachi that it began to become widespread, by artist Hajji Hussain. [9]

The term "jingle truck" is military slang that was coined by American troops serving in Afghanistan, although it may also date back to the British colonial period. The term came to be because of the jingling sound that the trucks make due to the chains and pendants hanging from the bumpers of the vehicles. [10]

Practice

Truck being painted in Kochi, India A truck being painted near Cochin, India.jpg
Truck being painted in Kochi, India

Many trucks and buses are highly customized and decorated by their owners. External truck decoration can cost thousands of dollars. [11] The decoration often contains elements that remind the truck drivers of home, since they may be away from home for months at a time. [12] The art is a mode of expression for the truck drivers. [13] Decoration may include structural changes, paintings, calligraphy and ornamental-decor like mirror work on the front and back of vehicles and wooden carvings on the truck doors. Depictions of various historical scenes and poetic verses are also common. [14] Outfitting is often completed at a coach workshop. [15] Chains and pendants often dangle off the front bumper. [16] In India, motifs depicting eagles, kites, cow nuzzling calf and nazar battu , and catchphrases like " Horn OK Please ", "Blow Horn" and "Use Dipper at Night" are frequently seen. [17] Religious iconography, poetry and political logos are also common. [18] [19]

Artists

One of the most prominent truck artists is Haider Ali. Trained by his father from his youth, he first came to international attention in 2002 when he painted a Pakistani truck as part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. [20] Nafees Ahmad Khan, a truck art artist in Indore, is well known throughout India and has been designing one truck every day for over thirty-two years. [13] Mr. Syed Phool Badshah, also known as Phool ji, is a well known truck artist who is best known for his unique style of doing Fine Arts with Truck art. [21]

Regional styles

A tanker truck in Bhutan with Tibetan buddhist symbols like the snow lion used for decoration Tank truck on Phuentsholing-Thimphu highway, Bhutan.jpg
A tanker truck in Bhutan with Tibetan buddhist symbols like the snow lion used for decoration

In Pakistan, Karachi is a major city centre for truck art, though there are other hubs in Rawalpindi, Swat, Peshawar, Quetta and Lahore. Trucks from Balochistan and Peshawar are often heavily trimmed with wood, while trucks from Rawalpindi and Islamabad often feature plastic work. Camel bone ornamentation and predominance of red colours is commonly seen on trucks decorated in Sindh. [14]

In India, the Delhi-based artist Tilak Raj Dhir states that the slogans he adds to his truck art, which is prevalent throughout the National Capital Region, often change with the socio-political atmosphere. [22] The state of Punjab is considered a major centre of truck art in India, with a distinctive style and expert artists. [23] Poetry is commonly seen in truck art across northern India, and particularly in Uttar Pradesh. [19] Truck art in Hindi and Urdu is sometimes called Phool Patti. [24] [25]

Influence

Truck art decorates the facade of a business in Peshawar, Pakistan. Naan sense peshawar.jpg
Truck art decorates the façade of a business in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Truck art has extended beyond the decoration and ornamentation of trucks into other forms and media.

Cars

Though cars are not traditionally decorated in South Asia, there are examples of cars embellished in a truck art style. In 2009, The Foxy Shahzadi, a 1974 VW Beetle decorated in a truck art style, travelled from Pakistan to France in a 25-day journey. [26] [27]

Buses

The buses in Asia are colorful wonders to behold. They are decorated with fancy paintings that blend spiritual images with nature motifs. In Pakistan, these ornate buses and trucks feature beloved folk art. The so-called "jingle trucks" of Pakistan showcase this art tradition all over the country. Each vehicle displays complex designs and patterns, made by talented local artisans. [28]

Fashion

The lively colours of Pakistani trucks have inspired some fashion designers. [29] The Italian fashion company Dolce & Gabbana used truck art-inspired displays in a 2015 campaign. [30] Although used more often on women's fashion, some men's clothing have been inspired by South Asian truck art. [31] Apart from clothing, truck art has also been incorporated into shoes by some. [32]

Farid Bawa, an Indian graphic designer, collaborates with Indian truck artists to make and sell prints of truck art online in a bid to preserve the tradition of truck art. [33]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karachi</span> Capital of Sindh, Pakistan

Karachi is the capital city of the Pakistani province of Sindh. It is the largest city in Pakistan and the 12th largest in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast and formerly served as the capital of Pakistan. Ranked as a beta-global city, it is Pakistan's premier industrial and financial centre, with an estimated GDP of over $200 billion (PPP) as of 2021. Karachi is a metropolitan city and is considered Pakistan's most cosmopolitan city, and among the country's most linguistically, ethnically-, and religiously-diverse regions, as well as one of the country's most progressive and socially liberal cities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sindh</span> Province of Pakistan

Sindh is a province of Pakistan. Located in the southeastern region of the country, Sindh is the third-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the second-largest province by population after Punjab. It is bordered by the Pakistani provinces of Balochistan to the west and north-west and Punjab to the north. It shares an International border with the Indian states of Gujarat and Rajasthan to the east; it is also bounded by the Arabian Sea to the south. Sindh's landscape consists mostly of alluvial plains flanking the Indus River, the Thar Desert of Sindh in the eastern portion of the province along the international border with India, and the Kirthar Mountains in the western portion of the province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyderabad, Sindh</span> Metropolitan area in Sindh

Hyderabad is a city and the capital of Hyderabad Division in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is the second-largest city in Sindh, and the fifth largest in Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sindhis</span> Ethnolinguistic group native to Sindh

Sindhis are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group who speak the Sindhi language and are native to the Sindh province of Pakistan. The historical homeland of Sindhis is bordered by the southeastern part of Balochistan, the Bahawalpur region of Punjab and the Kutch region of Gujarat. Having been isolated throughout history, unlike its neighbours, Sindhi culture has preserved its own uniqueness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mirpur Khas</span> City in Sindh, Pakistan

Mirpur Khas is the capital city of the Mirpur Khas District and Mirpur Khas Division in the Sindh province, Pakistan. Mirpur Khas is the 6th largest city in Sindh province and the 34th largest city of Pakistan. The city was built by Talpur rulers of Mankani branch. According to the 2017 Census of Pakistan, its population is 233,916. Mirpur Khas is known for its mango cultivation, with hundreds of varieties of the fruit produced each year - it is also called the “City of Mangoes,” and has been home to an annual mango festival since 1955. After the completion of Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas dual carriage way, the city has become hub of commercial activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sindhology</span> Field of South Asian studies

Sindhology is a field of South Asian studies and academic research that covers the history, society, culture, literature and people of Sindh, Pakistan. The subject was first brought into the academic circles with the establishment of the Institute of Sindhology at Sindh University in 1964. Since then, it has developed into a discipline that covers the aspects of history and archaeology from the Indus Valley civilization to the modern Sindhi society. The subject has also received wider attention at international levels. An academic or expert who specialises in Sindhology is called a Sindhologist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sindhi cuisine</span> Cuisine of the Sindh, Pakistan

Sindhi cuisine refers to the distinct native cuisine of the Sindhi people from Sindh, Pakistan. Sindhi cuisine has been influenced by Central Asian, Iranian, Mughal food traditions. It is mostly a non-vegetarian cuisine, with even Sindhi Hindus widely accepting of meat consumption. The daily food in most Sindhi households consists of wheat-based flat-bread (Mani) or rice accompanied by two dishes, one gravy and one dry with curd, papad or pickle. Freshwater fish and a wide variety of vegetables are usually used in Sindhi cuisine. Restaurants specializing in Sindhi cuisine are rare, although it is found at truck stops in rural areas of Sindh province, and in a few restaurants in urban Sindh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chaukhandi tombs</span> Mausoleum in Sindh, Pakistan

The Chaukhandi tombs form an early Islamic cemetery situated 29 km (18 mi) east of Karachi, Sindh province of Pakistan. The tombs are notable for their elaborate sandstone carvings. The tombs are similar in style to the elaborate tombs at the Makli Necropolis near Thatta, and are built in the funerary architectural style typical of lower Sindh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Karachi</span>

The area of Karachi in Sindh, Pakistan has a natural harbor and has been used as fishing port by local fisherman belonging to Sindhi tribes since prehistory. Archaeological excavations have uncovered a period going back to Indus valley civilisation which shows the importance of the port since the Bronze Age. The port city of Banbhore was established before the Christian era which served as an important trade hub in the region, the port was recorded by various names by the Greeks such as Krokola, Morontobara port, and Barbarikon, a sea port of the Indo-Greek Bactrian kingdom and Ramya according to some Greek texts. The Arabs knew it as the port of Debal, from where Muhammad bin Qasim led his conquering force into Sindh in AD 712. Lahari Bandar or Lari Bandar succeeded Debal as a major port of the Indus; it was located close to Banbhore, in modern Karachi. The first modern port city near Manora Island was established during British colonial Raj in the late 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shah Jahan Mosque, Thatta</span> 17th-century mosque in Pakistan

The Shah Jahan Mosque, also known as the Jamia Masjid of Thatta, is a 17th-century building that serves as the central mosque for the city of Thatta, in the Pakistani province of Sindh. The mosque is considered to have the most elaborate display of tile work in South Asia, and is also notable for its geometric brick work - a decorative element that is unusual for Mughal-period mosques. It was built during the reign of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who bestowed it to the city as a token of gratitude, and is heavily influenced by Central Asian architecture - a reflection of Shah Jahan's campaigns near Samarkand shortly before the mosque was designed.

Pakistani architecture is intertwined with the architecture of the broader Indian subcontinent. The major architectural styles popular in the past were Temple, Indo-Islamic, Mughal and Indo-Saracenic architecture, all of which have many regional varieties. With the beginning of the Indus civilization around the middle of the 3rd millennium BC, for the first time in the area which encompasses today's Pakistan an advanced urban culture developed with large structural facilities, some of which survive to this day. This was followed by the Gandhara style of Buddhist architecture that borrowed elements from Ancient Greece. These remnants are visible in the Gandhara capital of Taxila.

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The cultural history of Karachi goes back at least five thousand years to the emergence of the Indus Valley Civilization in the third millennium BC. The early culture is mostly Neolithic with widespread usage of small cart implements and semi-precious stones. The many megalithic Arab graves around Karachi gave evidence towards megalithic movements of the Arabian Peninsula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muhajir (Pakistan)</span> Muslims who immigrated to Pakistan from India in 1947

The Muhajir people are Muslim immigrants of various ethnic groups and regional origins, and their descendants, who migrated from various regions of India after the Partition of India to settle in the newly independent state of Pakistan. The community includes those immigrants' descendants, most of whom are settled in Karachi and other parts of urban Sindh. The Muhajir community also includes stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh who migrated to Pakistan after 1971 following the secession of East Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shalwar kameez</span> Trousers and tunic worn in South Asia

Shalwar kameez is a traditional combination dress worn by men and women in South Asia, and Central Asia.

Gul Muhammad Khatri (1919–1979) was a renowned artist, painter and writer living in Karachi, Pakistan. He produced art works in the form of portraits, landscape art, and calligraphic illustrations of Sufi poetry. He also did commercial art work in the form of poster design, glass painting, sign board, textile design, theatrical design, cinema posters, tile design as well as Sindhi, Urdu, Hindi, Gujarati and English calligraphy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insurgency in Sindh</span> Separatist conflict being waged against Pakistan by Sindhi nationalists

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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. He first gained international attention in 2002 when he worked on the first authentic Pakistani truck in North America for the Smithsonian and has since exhibited at museums and institutions globally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistani craft</span> Craft work of Pakistan

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References

  1. ↑ Mughal, Owais (June 18, 2008). "Pakistan's Indigenous Art of Truck Painting". All Things Pakistan. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Tracing Truck Art beyond 'Horn OK Please': India and Pakistan's Truck Art tradition". Creative Yatra. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2017. Largely a domestic art in its early years especially in North India and Pakistan, the ideation of beautifying trucks, lorries, and rickshaws with multifaceted patterns and calligraphy was common.
  3. 1 2 3 Rathnayake, Zinara (2022-09-01). "Pakistan's Trucks Are Vibrant, Bedazzled Works of Art". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  4. ↑ "سنڌ جا زيور2 : (Sindhianaسنڌيانا)". www.encyclopediasindhiana.org (in Sindhi). Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  5. ↑ Hamdani, Anas (2018-08-22). "Eid makeover: The art of camel barbering". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  6. ↑ "Pakistani barbers decorate camels with ancient motifs in elaborate Eid makeover". Arab News PK. 2021-07-22. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  7. ↑ Dianna, Wray (December 2021). "Pakistani Art Trucks on a Bridge of Culture". AramcoWorld. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Truck art from Pakistan". Zahra's Blog + Brown Lady Art Collective. 2018-04-11. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  9. ↑ Sheikh, Ziyad (2021-11-05). "Pakistan's Truck Art: A Beautiful Expression..." Paradigm Shift. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  10. ↑ Barrett, Grant (26 May 2005). "A Way With Words" . Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  11. ↑ Elias, Jamal (2005). "On Wings of Diesel: The Decorated Trucks of Pakistan". Amherst Magazine. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Pakistan's truck art inspires catwalk fashion range - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
  13. 1 2 "Inside the World of Indian Truck Art". Vice.com. 2019-07-05. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
  14. 1 2 Covington, Richard (Spring 2005). "Masterpieces to Go: The Trucks of Pakistan". Saudi Aramco World. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  15. ↑ Nyland, Tim (October 19, 2006). "The Painted Trucks of Pakistan". Penn Current. University of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on January 13, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  16. ↑ Pakistan's Dazzling 'Jingle Trucks' Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (www.rferl.org). June 14, 2017. Retrieved on 2017-06-19.
  17. ↑ Iyengar, Radhika (2 June 2021). "India's Vibrant and Idiosyncratic Truck Art". hyperallergic.com. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  18. 1 2 McKenzie, Sheena (5 August 2015). "Pimp my ride: The psychedelic world of Indian truck art". CNN . Retrieved 31 July 2017. For truckers in India, that means a kaleidoscope of colors, slogans, and intricately painted symbols that are as much about bling -- as shrewd business sense. ..."A better looking truck attracts more business," says Shantanu Suman, graphic designer and filmmaker behind 2013 documentary "Horn Please," which explores India's spectacular truck art tradition.
  19. 1 2 Kafle, Dinesh (22 March 2021). "Ode to the Road: Truck Art of North India". Sahapedia.org. Retrieved 17 May 2022. An example of such a space, the bumpers of the trucks in North India are often painted with couplets and quartets. Among North Indian trucks, those registered in Uttar Pradesh often carry writings that are closest to what we call truck literature: couplets and quartets.
  20. ↑ Hart, Hugh (14 November 2014). "A Jingle Truck Artist Brings The Mobile Art Of Pakistan To America". Fast Company. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  21. ↑ "Syed Phool Badshah – Karachi Art Directory" . Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  22. ↑ Sharma, Manoj (20 April 2015). "Meet the men who convert trucks into colourful canvases". Hindustan Times . Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  23. ↑ Harris, Johnny; Thornell, Christina (17 July 2019). "India's trucks are works of art". Vox . Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  24. ↑ "HERITAGE: SAYING IT WITH FLOWERS". dawn.com. 22 April 2018.
  25. ↑ "Dover Rug & Home Presents Truck Artist, Haider Ali". Wellesley Weston Magazine. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2019. In recent years, Ali and his students, and their students, have started a company they named Phool Patti, which translates to 'flowers leaves' in Urdu/Hindi.
  26. ↑ "Foxy Shahzadi running away for good". The Dawn. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  27. ↑ Walsh, Declan (9 November 2010). "From Pakistan to Paris, by VW Beetle". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  28. ↑ "Did You Know These Surprising Facts About Buses?". bustiming.in. 30 November 2023.
  29. ↑ "Pakistan's truck art inspires catwalk fashion range". BBC. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  30. ↑ Sheikh, Ibriz (30 May 2015). "Pakistani truck art takes over streets of Milan". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  31. ↑ "Truck art and fashion". pakistantruckart.com. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  32. ↑ "Pakistani truck artist gives new flair to kicks". Forbes India . Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  33. ↑ Shrivastava, Cara (8 June 2021). "This Collective Is Taking India's Unique Truck Art To The World". Homegrown.co.in. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
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