Pakistan’s ‘truck art’

Subject: History

Section: Art and Culture

Context: Recently a Pakistani truck driver has gone viral over social media for his truck art on Sidhu Moosewala

Concept:

Truck art began in Peshawar and Karachi in the 1950s to cater to demands of truckers who wanted to make their trucks look presentable.
It was a localized art form which travelled the world as it got popular among the foreigners who would come to Pakistan to get their vintage vehicles decorated.
Slowly, this unique blend of colours and murals, accompanied by localised handmade accessories got international fame.
The space is special as it is usually reserved for Pakistani national heroes and actors/singers.
A face that is painted on a truck symbolizes people’s immense love for that personality.
Some drivers also get portraits of their family members painted which goes on to show how much the space matters to them.
Presidents, Army Generals, poets, musicians and even Bollywood Actors and Actresses are painted.
In 2019, UNESCO used this art form to create awareness on girls’ education in Kohistan district of Pakistan.
It is just in some pockets of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) in Pakistan that truck art is still visible because people here are fond of driving trucks. Efforts are required to preserve this dying heritage.