Truck art

Indeed, the life of a truck driver is filled with loneliness. They return home for short periods of
time in between long road trips.

“Our trucks are the only companions we have on the road,” adds Butt. “They know all our
secrets. They mean the world to us. We want them to look good. We like decorating them and
taking great care of these beauties.”

Pakistani Truck Art

The craft of decorating and painting trucks has continued to evolve. The work done on trucks
involves creativity, cultural understanding, and aesthetic skills. It is, therefore, a true art form,
known all over the world as Pakistani Truck Art.

Process of decorating a truck

The process of decorating a truck can take two weeks to six months and involves seven, stages.
1) Design Consultation
2) Frame Work
3) Engine Work
4) Body Work
5) Paint
6) Decoration
7) Detailing

Introduction
Just like the Billboard painting performed in Pakistan, there is another form of art performed in
Pakistan and it is the Truck Painting. Colorful floral patterns, human heroes, calligraphy of
poetic verses and driver’s words of wisdom are painted on truck in very beautiful way. This form
of art is truly a part of Pakistani transport tradition.

History of Truck Art

Truck art first introduced in Sikh religion by Sikh drivers who would paint portrait of their
spiritual gurus. Simultaneously Muslim drivers started painting portraits of Sufi saints.

Origin of truck art

Fig. Bedford Truck

In Pakistan truck art has originated dating back to 1920’s when Bedford trucks were imported
from England. Large wooden prows known as ‘’crown or taj’’ were fitted on top of truck. Each
company in 1940’s designed a logo on goods carrying trucks so that people would come to know
that who owns the truck. With the passage of time these logos became more decorated.
Competing transportation companies would hire craftsmen to decorate their buses in the hopes
that these moving canvases would attract more passengers. This would be explained by Durriya
Kazi, head of the department of visual studies at the University of Karachi and an expert in truck
art. “They were badges of competition.” Karachi became hub of truck art in 1950’s when an
artist Haji Hussain who was famous for decorating palaces settled in Karachi. Truck painting
was famous not only in Pakistan but also in other south Asian countries, South America and
japan. More people were employed in workshops to decorate trucks because each truck driver
wants that their trucks looks better than others.

Many trucks and buses in Pakistan are highly customized and decorated by their owners. These
adorned vehicles are considered as moving art, or jingle art. Because of their unique decor style,
these vehicles are quite distinct in layout from other trucks around the world. Each part of the
vehicle is decorated differently, with variations depending on the regional style. Although the
decorative process is usually very expensive, it is still practiced throughout Pakistan as well as a
few other countries of South Asia and Central Asia with great zeal and aesthetic zest. In Pakistan
a truck driver/owner usually pays $3,000 to $5,000 for their vehicle's external decoration. This
decoration includes structural changes, paintings, calligraphy and more.

History and politics of truck art

  1947

By 1947 truckers began to add more elements around the portraits of Sufis such as landscapes,
flying horses and peacocks.

 1960,s

From 1960 politics also involved in truck art. As this was the era of Ayub Khan who was a first
military dictator so he was painted on trucks in this time. Transporters from NWFP owned
mainly these trucks.

 1970,s
Bhutto was the second political leader appeared on trucks and these trucks were owned by
transporters from Punjab and Sindh province. By 1970,s non Pakistani figures also appeared on
trucks for example film stars and Bruce Lee became highly popular.
 Bruce lee in truck art heaven

Major regions decorative styles

Karachi is a major center for decorating trucks. There are other truck decorating hubs in
Rawalpindi, Swat, Peshawar, Quetta and Lahore . Nearly every city in Pakistan has a unique
decoration style. The Balochistani and Peshawari trucks are heavily trimmed with wood
especially the doors. Rawalpindi and Islamabadi trucks have prominently featured plastic work.
Camel bone ornamentation is commonly seen in trucks decorated by Sindh artists. Thus trucks
are also representative of different historical and cultural regions of Pakistan.

References
https://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/pakistans-truck-art

https://mymodernmet.com/pakistan-truck-art/

https://www.dawn.com/news/1278386

https://www.thefridaytimes.com/the-art-of-loving/