The art of decorating means of transport gained popularity in the Indian subcontinent during the period of dominion.
Pakistan’s culture and society have been significantly influenced by diverse ethnic groups living in the country. Punjabis, Kashmiris, Sindhis, Balochis, Siraikis, Pakhtuns and Muhajirs have all contributed to our cultural heritage and art over many decades.
The art in Pakistan has also been greatly influenced by various regions in the neighbourhood. Notable influences include the Persian Empire along with the Afghan and Mughal Empire.
The colonial regime, more popularly known as British Raj also influenced the forms of fine arts in the country.
However, over the decades and various influences, one thing which still remains consistent in Pakistani art is vibrant colours. Bright colours have always been the major attraction and hence, it is no surprise that local crafts and clothing all consist of a wide spectrum of colours.
Over the years, ethnic art and crafts have gained popularity on such a large scale that these symbols of trucks have now moved onto objects and clothes.
The cultural art with time has not lost its true essence. However, it has matured and popularized worldwide, making it a good business strategy for a lot of common people.
Having been spread at such a vast perimeter, the skills of our local people are being put to use in mass production bringing a boost in employment and appreciation.
This gallery comprises hand painted items by artist Bina Ali and Anjum Rana.
— Photos and Text by Shameen Khan/Dawn.com
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I can’t see the fineness in the art .This is drawing , not art .Uneven thickness of these painting are highly visible.Combination of light colors and modern arts would have been better .
Very beautiful.. nice soothing earthly colours.
My sister buys a lot of similar stuff from dilli haat near INA market, if some fellow Indian readers are interested.
I am a bit disappointed to see Dawn using the term ‘muhajirs’. Is no alternative for the word?.. I throw up a little bit every time I see that word being used to describe people who have been living in their current location since more than 60+ years now.
I think when one has already gone through everything that is modern the natural direction is to go to the local things. I too have fallen in love with local things and it just keeps on increasing day by day.
We must agree that 98% of us are converts from Hindus/Budhists. 2% were the invaders/fighters of Persia/Afghan who settled back in India then. So we are naturaly part of this civlizations. Its not Hindu civlization- its Indian civlization. We must learn from Iran and Egypt being moslem countiers still they respect & presrve their ancient civlization. After all Islam came into existencs only 1400 yrs ago, where as our & indian civlizations date back to 5000 yrs old. At least we need to be rational & logical in thinking….
What are you basing your stats on? Do you have the research papers to back it up? Regardless of the numbers, I think Pakistanis should feel enriched that they are descendants of the Central Asian, Indian, Arab, Persian and Turkic civilizations. Hinduism and Buddhism is a belief and not ethnicity and it is part of our heritage. I think this Hindu-Muslim rivalry is a case of conquered vs the conqueror and is older than 1947.
Digging up the Pharoanic graves is Archeology, but money is behind the desecration of their ancestors. Would Muslims allow the desecration of their graves in the future in the name of science and Archeology?
I think Not! Simply, Islam, as do Judaism and Christianity, expects the dead to arise on the Day of Judgement and Answer to God.
A few graves dug up for education might be pardons but digging up every one is insensitive and greedy.
Slide no.2 is fantastic. And especially like Bina Ali’s work. It is her own interpertation of truck art and much more interesting.
The article doesnt even mention India even once and yet the 1st commentators (negative as usual) are Indians. Do you guys ever read your own press, or is it not worth the time?
I won’t do into why even though India is not mentioned it is still the elephant in the room in more ways than one. Instead let me just list a few reasons why I am here..
- I am not blind about my roots, and I suffer from the middle class vice of wanting to know about who I am and where I am from.
- Pakistan makes a good case study to illustrate why politics and religion must never mix. My country, India suffers from this too and I want to do everything to stop the madness… understanding the underlying problem is the first step in my view
- I read absolutely anything when I am bored.. from pamphlets inserted for free in my daily newspaper to cartons or packets of anything I can find.
- This might be hard for you to accept but I like people across the border just as much as I like people this side of the border. Just because my Indian newspaper only mentions Pakistan in connection with terrorism doesn’t mean that is all I will know about it, internet seems to be a great alternate source.
- I only tolerate man made borders, I do not respect them.
How come Pakistan’s ancient Hindu and Buddhist culture is being destroyed daily in the Pakistan?
Your comment give you away as a person who has never been to Pakistan. Our museums are filled with ancient history. Pakistani people do not belog to the Hindu civilization, still ancient sites are protected by law. Pakistans history dates back many 1000′s of years beyound the Indus Vally Civilization which is, among other, glorified in our bank notes.
We are more concerned about people living today now a days. How come Indians has killed 100.000 of our kashmiri brothers and still occupy a Muslim majority region which under the 1947-partition was rightfully a part of Pakistan – while it forcefully took our states like Junagarh for its Hindu majority-reason?
Have you seen yesterdays dawn news paper which had an article dealing with destruction by robbing of Hindu and Buddhists iconography.
What is happening to ancient Hindu and Buddhists Temples are there any protections offered to them?
Recently a group of Muslims have been draining water from a tank by a Hindu temple.
Kashmir-is are in a sad state because of invasion and attitude of Pakistani
of fanaticism.
Just remember of you raise arms against another the other will do the same.
Yes, Have you got your head outside a Madrassa yet?
What evidence do you have of this sweeping allegation? Come on , lets hear it, if you have any proof that is. Or was it just the usual obsessive compulsive Pakistan hating Indian mind at work again, ready to spread hatred regardless of the topic under discussion.
I think it’s Pakistanis who are obsessed with the destruction of all things Indian. The revisionist views was clear in the decimation of the Bahmian Buddhas by Pakistani Madrssa-schooled Taliban. That’s what you want so there will be no memory except of your present religion.
Im sorry why are we talking about madrassas here?
This post is about art. Is it so hard to appreciate something positive?