https://www.facebook.com/108337581448487/

Bunte Markhor - Canada, 1330 Castlemore Ave, Markham, ON (2026)

06/18/2023

Come check this out! Promoting Pakistani craft and supporting refugee artisans!

05/23/2021

An important element of truck art is Chamak Patti. Literally translated, chamak means shiny and patti are stickers; it is an art form where artisans cut small pieces of reflective sticker sheets to create a design, which is then made into patterns and affixed onto tin sheets or on engraved metal that cover the trucks or buses’ exteriors. It is an extremely time consuming, detail oriented and distinctive art form.

Traditionally, and even today in many workshops around Pakistan, chamak patti work is done completely by hands - from cutting and hand beating to designing and then adding to a truck’s exterior. These pieces are sometimes as small as half a centimetre, to go around the entire length and breadth of a bus.

More recently, chamak patti has also branched out from the automobile industry and made its way into our homes, offices and restaurants. From trays, coasters and wall hangings to jewellery and bags, it has been adapted to various forms and is a beloved trend for Pakistan street style fashion aficionados.

Pictured here are chamak patti coasters by (picture 1), chamak patti work being done (picture 2) and chamak patti embellishment for trucks (picture 3), courtesy .

05/23/2021

For a truck driver, his vehicle is a home away from home. He spends many moons in it, travelling from one end of the country to another, with regional music keeping him company on long drives. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that these drivers, despite constrained financial resources, spend rather generously on decorating their trucks - about $2,500 for a basic paint job, which is about as much as a driver would earn in 2 years.

If that’s not commitment goals, we don’t know what is!

05/23/2021

HISTORY OF TRUCK ART

One of Pakistan most popular art forms, truck art dates back to the 1920s, when truck owners started painting their vehicles in unique ways to help masses differentiate between the many lorries carrying goods from England to Sub-Continent. With time, their designs became increasingly flamboyant and complex, colours shifted from basic to bright, and ornate decorations were added to the mix. Truck art was officially born.

By 1950s, truck art flourished to become an industry, with it’s capital in Karachi and pioneers like Hajji Hussain (known for his elaborate palace frescoes and floral designs) leading the way; by then, over 50,000 artists worked tirelessly to add colour to the streets and highways of Pakistan.

In 1960s, western pop art influences made way to Pakistan, resulting in what is now known as ‘psychedelic art’. Mini buses were the first to get a makeover under the influence of western-art-meets-truck-art, and were so heavily decorated and painted that they were labelled as the driver’s ‘dulhan’ (bride).

By the 1970s, non-Pakistani figures also began to appear in truck art. Up until then, it was mostly the likes of famous Pakistani vocalist, Madam Noor Jehan, surrounded by inanimate objects, flying horses, mighty flying falcons and kohl-lined, mesmerising eyes. Then, martial arts expert and film star, Bruce Lee became hugely popular in Pakistan, and the first non-Pakistani celebrity to appear on trucks. He was followed by Lady Diana.

From the late 1980s, the government of Pakistan and enterprising individuals began to organise truck art exhibitions abroad and by the early 2000s, the genre had established itself as an exciting and vibrant ‘folk art-form’ from Pakistan

Today, truck art has travelled to most metropolitans around the world, courtesy artists like Haider Ali of and seasoned designers like . It has also been translated into household items, fashion and interior decor items, some of which will soon be available on Bunte Markhor’s online store.

Photo credit:

05/23/2021

Starting the Bunte Markhor journey with everyone's favourite - Truck Art. A form that has effortlessly integrated itself in Pakistani lifestyle - from adding colour to the streets to inspiring fashion and pushing for reforms, it's a power house and then some. But first - do you know what city is considered the capital of truck art? Take a wild guess!

05/23/2021

Welcome to Bunte Markhor - a platform for all things handcrafted, colourful and made-in-Pakistan. This account is created to share the ‘bunt’ culture and traditions from the land of K2 mountains, communicated through ethically produced handicraft and art, laced with inspiring stories from the region.

It is also an attempt to preserve the craft, which now struggles for survival in the face of industrialisation and mass production. With awareness and dialogue will come appreciation and preservation.

Khush Amdeed (welcome, in Urdu - Pakistan’s national language)

05/23/2021

Welcome to Bunte Markhor - a platform for all things handcrafted, colourful and made-in-Pakistan. This account is created to share the ‘bunt’ culture and traditions from the land of K2 mountains, communicated through ethically produced handicraft and art, laced with inspiring stories from the region.

It is also an attempt to preserve the craft, which now struggles for survival in the face of industrialisation and mass production. With awareness and dialogue will come appreciation and preservation.

Khush Amdeed (welcome, in Urdu - Pakistan’s national language)

Bunte Markhor - Canada

06/18/2023

05/23/2021

05/23/2021

05/23/2021

05/23/2021

05/23/2021

05/23/2021

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category