Fomma recently showcased the works of folk art artist and promoter Anjum Rana, in an exhibition titled 'Karachi say Santa Fe tak' (From Karachi to Santa Fe). The exhibition was a preview of her work which will be shown at this year's Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, an annual event in the United States that celebrates folk art.
Folk art refers to any form of art, be it painting, music, or even clothes designing, that captures, in narrative-form, the traditions, lifestyles, and experiences of different social groups. Indigenous to the sub-continent are several arts and crafts traditions, be it block-printing, cinema-billboard painting, mosaic tiles, ceramics, and mirror-work on textiles and pottery, all of which can be categorised as folk art.
Truck art is also a form of folk art, as Rana explains that it is '...a representation of the values, aspirations, and dreams of not only the transporters, but also the painters...' As for the origins of Truck art, writer Peter Grant explains that its roots lie in the days of the Raj, when craftsmen made highly decorated horse-drawn carriages for the aristocracy, and that in the 1920s the Kohistan Bus Company asked master craftsman Ustad Elahi Bakhsh and his group of artisans to decorate the buses to attract passengers.
Recently, Truck art has gained recognition as not just an art form, but as a viable mode of expression. The Smithsonian Museum houses a Truck-art truck, and many books and articles have been published focusing on the art form. Food path Cuisine along the Grand Trunk Road from Kabul to Kolkata features many photographs of these moving pieces of art. Masterpieces to go The trucks of Pakistan by Richard Covington is a colourful publication devoted solely to Truck art of Pakistan, while Jamal Elias author of On wings of diesel has published articles in academic magazines in the US, defining and describing Truck art. Fashion designers in Pakistan, such as Maheen Khan, have derived inspiration from the motifs, colours, and patterns found in Truck art.
'Karachi say Santa Fe tak' displayed various articles that are ornately painted in the distinct Truck-art style, transforming these objects of everyday use into unique 'object d'art'. Mugs and tea kettles, the durable kind commonly used at the 'chai kohkah' are decorated with the floral and geometric patterns common to this form of folk art, thus removing any hint that these items are for heavy duty and commercial use.
Lanterns, benches, a mailbox and even motorcycle helmets seemingly take on new life as works of art, as the functionality of these items is now less significant than the ornate borders and motifs that adorn them. Conventional wisdom and famous sayings in Urdu also appeared on many of the storage trunks, wall hangings, and jewellery boxes, reminding us of what really matters in life — family and being thankful to God.
Rana's efforts are not only geared towards projecting this part of our heritage to the rest of the world, but to also provide Truck-art artisans the opportunity to '...gain respect in the eyes of Pakistanis as highly creative and skilled artisans...' As the winner of the Unesco Seal of Excellence Award For Handicrafts, 2008, Rana is perhaps trying to preserve a part of our culture amidst rapid globalisation in Pakistan, that often forces us to imitate the West.
Truck art has gained recognition as a viable mode of expression.
