South Asian Truck Art: a Take & Make project

Please register on the day you would like to pick up the craft materials, no need to specify a time!

This Take & Make project is part of the Inaugural AAPI Heritage Festival at Scarsdale Public Library! #scarsdaleAAPIfest

This passive program consists of an at-home art project, which was lovingly designed and created by local artist, Priya Nag. The project was inspired by the truck and transportation art prevalent in South and Southeast Asia. Each participant will make and decorate their own truck with the materials provided by the Library in the kit. 

Suitable for all ages. Step-by-step instructions are available at this link: https://bit.ly/3oS3MfW

Every registrant will have a Take & Make kit reserved for them to pick up from 54 Olmsted Road.

When you register, please type your email address carefully and correctly so you will have no problems receiving your important project correspondence by email.

About South Asian Truck Art

Barreling down the roads of South Asia are some of the most beautiful and creative examples of self-expression on the world’s roads!  Truck owners in India, Pakistan and other neighboring countries customize and decorate their trucks in bold and bright colors featuring elaborate floral patterns and calligraphy. Decoration may also include structural changes, mirror work and even wooden carvings. While themes include social messages or historical events, the most important elements are those that remind the truck drivers of home – names of family members, familiar landscapes, or leaders they follow. Working in collaboration with the artists, they strive to convert the trucks to their home away from home, as they often spend months away traveling the length and breadth of the country.

More recently, truck art has extended beyond the decoration of trucks into other forms and media. Taxies, rickshaws (3 wheeled vehicles popular in Asia) and even buses can be seen painted in this popular style. The lively colors have crept into contemporary graphics and fashion inspiring even the likes of Dolce and Gabbana who did a whole campaign inspired by the truck art.

If you’d like to dive into truck art further, watch the documentary “HORN PLEASE” by Shantanu Suman and produced by Talkies Films.