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(The Times, Magnus Linklater 29/06/05)
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This Truck has Got to be Special
by Anjum Rana
Age Range: 9-11
Chinar Gul is a truck driver from Pakistan. Gul travels regularly on the Karakoram Highway, the Pakistan to China road known as the ‘roof of the world’. He carries freight to and from China – wheat, potatoes, wooden sleepers and fruit such as melons. When Gul is finally able to buy his own vehicle he wants it to be beautiful. Truck artist Zarrar tells him – ‘This Truck has got to be Special’. As Zarrar starts to work to transform the truck, Gul waits in the yard reminiscing about his many journeys, the splendour of the landscape and the intricacies of truck art.
This is a highly original tribute celebrating the energy and joy of Pakistani truck art. It was an ambitious project for Tara Book; a richly imagined collaboration and five-way conversation between Pakistani writer and interior designer Anjum Rana, who works with truck artists on furniture, walls household items and objects d’art; Truck Artists Hakeem Nawaz and Amer Khan, Indian artist Sumeer Kulavoor and Graphic Designer Rathna Ramanathan, who put the text and images together.
Truck art is also found in other countries but in Parkistan vehicle decoration has acquired an iconic status with different types of truck art associated with particular cities. The art covers the entire surface of the vehicle. The crown is usually decorated with religious messages or paintings of Islamic holy places. The sides feature landscapes, animals, birds and talismanic elements that help ward off bad luck.
Truck art is a way of life and this book captures the world of truck artists and drivers in an innovative and imaginative way.