Global attraction: Truck art fascinates Dutch diplomats

Paint bicycle with help of local artists at Lok Virsa

Dutch diplomats expressed profound admiration for Pakistani truck art during a visit to the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) at Shakarparian on Thursday.

An exhibition-cum-workshop of truck art was especially organised for the visiting delegation by the Lok Virsa administration.

Eight master artisans, Habibur Rehman, Muhammad Ijazullah, Khalilur Rehman, Irfan, Ghufran, Muhammad Younus, Muhammad Babar, Muhammad Hanif, Noorul Haq and Sajid participated in the exhibition-cum-workshop.

While welcoming the distinguished delegates, museum director Sajeela Naveed said the mandate of Lok Virsa included research, collection, documentation, preservation and dissemination of Pakistan’s traditional culture, both in the tangible and intangible forms.

The delegates showed keen interest in the artwork showcased by the artisans and spent around two hours painting a bicycle with the help of artisans. The bicycle will be placed in the Embassy of the Netherlands.

The main theme of truck art consists of geometrical and floral patterns, landscapes with lakes, rivers, waterfalls, snow-covered mountain peaks, spring fountains, gardens, flowers, mosques, eagles, peacocks, fowls, and pictures of celebrities, said Naveed.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2015.