The displayed materials — produced by artists and architects — cover a time span of eight decades illustrating the evolution and development of the new nation via its art and culture
Pakistani Truck Art on Display at the National Museum of Qatar
By Dr Ahmed S. Khan
Chicago, IL
Qatar has many world-class museums and art galleries. The two most visited ones are the National Museum of Qatar (which presents the culture and history of Qatar) and the Museum of Islamic Art (which showcases a unique collection of Islamic art from around the world).
The National Museum of Qatar’s future art mill is presently organizing a major art exhibition titled “Manzar (the view or the scene)” on the art and architecture of Pakistan from the 1940s to the present. The displayed materials — produced by artists and architects — cover a time span of eight decades illustrating the evolution and development of the new nation via its art and culture.
The exhibition also includes Pakistan’s famous truck art. The museum has invited three Pakistani artists —Syed Phool Badshah (Phool Jee Art Network), Amin Sabir, and Muhammed Arif — to paint a truck (parked outside the museum) in the fashion of Pakistani Truck art. The Pakistani artists have painted one side of the truck with Qatari cultural icons and plan to paint the other depicting Pakistani culture. The Pakistani artists are also training Qatari students in Pakistani Truck Art.
At the back of the truck, the Pakistani Truck Artists painted floral designs with iconic text sayings of Pakistani Truck Art:
Manzar, Qatar Auto Museum.
Daikh, Magar Payar Say (See, but with Love)
Dil Barai Farokht, Qeemat Aik Muskarahat (Heart for sale, price just a smile)
The work in progress includes the Pakistani Truck Art’s classic sayings:
Himat hay to pass kar, Warna burdasht kar (If you got courage, pass me, otherwise be tolerant)
MaaN key Dua, Janet Ki Hava (Mother’s prayer is like Breeze from Heaven)
And humorous couplets like,
Kismat ka Ajeeb Chakaar hay
Kabhi Karachi Kabhi Sukker hay
Strange are Destiny’s destinations
Sometimes it’s Karachi, and sometimes it’s Sukkur
