PESHAWAR: Young truck artist Siyar Khan from Sarband village near the provincial capital has gained widespread popularity after he put his art pieces online lately.
He is currently painting the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit’s structure, especially pillars, and will fly to New Zealand in August to exhibit his works.
Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan Wendy Gilmour invited Mr Siyar to Islamabad last week and honoured him for his skills. She also bought a pair of shoes painted by the truck artist and said she would give it to for her elder sister, Dr Katie Gilmour, as a birthday gift.The diplomat displayed it on her Twitter account.
Siyar Khan revealed that two years ago when he lost job as truck artist due to the coronavirus pandemic-induced business crisis, he began painting household things he received in wedding and shared its photos on his Facebook page.
The local tycoons have hired the services of the artist for the decoration of the interiors of their houses in and around Peshawar, which included walls, furniture, facades and crockery. He has painted truck art images on hundreds and thousands of things and has several online orders for crafting images. He has lent innovative dominions to truck art.
Siyar Khan paints different images on vehicles, household things, shoes, dresses mobile phones and schoolbags giving an extra beauty and attractive look to them.
Siyar Khan received a response from a Washington DC-based Pakhtun restaurant owner from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa placed an order to decorate utensils for his reception office, which he did within a month and shipped. From there, his success story began.
Recalling his early age, he said he had learnt basics of truck from his maternal uncle and employed with a truck workshop, where he used to get Rs100 per day, it was increased to Rs300 after spending nine years on the same station. Later, he was relieved due to pandemic crisis. Fortune smiled on him.
“I earn more than Rs3,000 a day through online exhibition. One must do hard work to sell one’s talents. During a 2020 expo, my stall attracted foreigners, who placed several orders and I honoured most of them. They were received from Turkey, USA, UK, Germany and France,” he told Dawn.
Siyar Khan also received the Lok Virsa and Dubai Expo 2020 awards and participated in numerous group exhibitions. Regarding future plans, he said he was ready to impart his skills to aspiring artists.
Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2022
