Truck art in South Asia

The concept of South Asian truck art itself generally goes back to the 1920s during British rule in Colonial India, in which trucks were imported into the country. Locals began to decorate the trucks that arrived in colonial India using "kaleidoscopic age-old folk art" from the region. The tradition of truck art became "a tradition for generations of truck artists" in the Indian subcontinent. The phrase Horn OK Please is often seen on trucks using the South Asian truck art form. During the World War II era the abbreviation "OK" referred to the fact that the trucks were running on kerosene, a flammable fuel.The "OK" might be a reference to this. 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. ==Practice==

with Tibetan buddhist symbols like the snow lion used for decoration Many trucks and buses are highly customized and decorated by their owners. External truck decoration can cost thousands of dollars. The decoration often contains elements that remind the truck drivers of home, since they may be away from home for months at a time. The art is a mode of expression for the truck drivers. 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. Outfitting is often completed at a coach workshop. Chains and pendants often dangle off the front bumper. Religious iconography, poetry and political logos are also common. India , India Themes 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. Artists 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. The state of Punjab is considered a major centre of truck art in India, with a distinctive style and expert artists. Poetry is commonly seen in truck art across northern India, and particularly in Uttar Pradesh. Pakistan Themes Truck art showcases a wide variety of symbols, from religious (mostly Islamic) motifs, poetic calligraphy and folklore to political messages and regional identity. These traditional symbols evolve as artisans apply their decorative techniques with modern mediums. Artists Truck art has been called a "big business" in Pakistan, with around 250,000 people employed in the major centers as of 2014; 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. Regional styles General Motors introduced trucks to Karachi in the 1930s and by the time of the partition of India, it had become the hub of truck art within what became Pakistan, with people moving to the city for work. Though Karachi is a major city centre for truck art, though there are other hubs in Rawalpindi, Swat, Peshawar, Quetta and Lahore. The Karachi style has been called "disco art", with flashing bulbs, glass and mirrors. 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. In Sindh, truck art is not exclusive to trucks only, but it is also used in local rickshaws, vans, wagons, bikes, busses, etc. ==Influence==

, 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. In the Indian city of Mumbai, some drivers decorate their taxis in a truck art style. 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. Fashion The lively colours of Pakistani trucks have inspired some fashion designers. The Italian fashion company Dolce & Gabbana used truck art-inspired displays in a 2015 campaign. Although used more often on women's fashion, some men's clothing have been inspired by South Asian truck art. Apart from clothing, truck art has also been incorporated into shoes by some. Print design 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. , India New mediums South Asian truck art has expanded beyond vehicles into many modern mediums. Many artists use high-resolution digital graphics and vinyl stickers to replicate traditional designs. In India, truck art has evolved into a digital style, mixing traditional motifs with computer-generated imagery. Online platforms and social media have helped globalize the art form, allowing artists to reach wider audiences and collaborate with brands. The art form has been used in large-scale urban murals like Doha’s JedariArt. Artists such as Haider Ali have also decorated non-traditional surfaces, including shipping containers and aircraft. This range of mediums reflects truck art’s evolving role as both a commercial product and a cultural export. ==Gallery==

File:The symbol of art (1015808925).jpg|Decorations can be highly detailed. File:Pakistani decorated Wheels Trucks.jpg|All parts of the truck are highly embellished. File:Such beauty (1015799377).jpg|Wood-paneling is often carved in high detail. File:Indiatruck.jpg|The phrase "Horn Please" is used extensively in Indian truck art. File:Sisters getting ready.jpg|The backs of Pakistani trucks are often intricately decorated. File:Decorated truck (4180258762).jpg|Decorated truck in Rajasthan. File:Bangladeshi truck Near Dhaka.jpg|A decorated truck near Dhaka. File:Truck Pulled over due to lockdown in Nepal-Shambhunath Municipality , Nepal-4553.jpg|Truck art in Nepal often contains modern symbols alongside traditional ones. File:PK Truck on N-5 near Thatta asv2020-02 img2.jpg|Two decorated trucks on Pakistan's N-5 National Highway. File:Colourful afghan truck.jpg|Decorated truck in Afghanistan. File:Edappalayam Truck.jpg|A decorated truck in Kerala. File:W-P-AD20070217-16h21m13s-e.jpg|A decorated truck in the wood-paneled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa style. File:Decorated truck in India.jpg|A decorated fuel truck from Punjab, India. File:Street scene in Sri Lanka.jpg|Decorated Sri Lankan truck File:Jingle truck in Delaram, Afghanistan 01.jpg|Jingle truck in Delaram, Afghanistan. File:Gilgit-Skardu road.JPG|Decorated trucks can be found in even the most remote corners of Pakistan. File:Truck in Rangpo, Sikkim.jpg|In Sikkim File:A road leads to Sharda, Neelum Valley AJK.JPG|Many local buses in Pakistan are decorated with truck art. File:El Gouna Bus R01.jpg|A public transport bus in El Gouna, Egypt customised and highly decorated in Pakistani style File:London - Pakistani decorated bus.jpg|A Pakistani-decorated bus on Euston Road, London. File:Karachi tram nightime melbourne.jpg|The Karachi to Melbourne Tram, decorated by Pakistani truck artists, during the 2006 Commonwealth Games ==See also==