Das kraftstrotzende Koloss

This vibrant painting features a beautifully decorated truck, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Pakistani truck art. The truck is adorned with intricate patterns and colorful designs, including floral motifs and geometric shapes, all meticulously painted in bright hues of turquoise, red, yellow, and green. The front view captures the detailed embellishments around the windows and the charms hanging from its edge, evoking a sense of joy and liveliness. This artwork symbolizes not just transportation but also the artistic expression of the local community, making it a celebration of color and craftsmanship.

This painting can serve as a striking focal point in various interior settings such as a living room, gallery space, or even a creative office environment. Its vibrant colors and cultural significance can enhance the ambiance, making it especially appealing in eclectic or artistic decor styles. Placing it against a neutral backdrop can further accentuate its vivid details, allowing it to stand out as a conversation piece.

The powerful colossus

I immediately noticed the aerials in the upper section of this truck and the beautiful lettering is a real eye-catcher. The vehicle actually looks square, which gives it an incredibly powerful appearance. Small details in the color scheme immediately lead to a completely different statement. This vehicle has very reduced bells, but the lower front section is painted in a kind of flower power style. The vehicle has huge windows with really opulent lettering on them, which of course I can't translate. 

As a rule, I almost always only took pictures of the trucks from the front, as this is the most expressive side. But there were also vehicles where I took pictures of the rear. I was often fascinated by the elaborate paintings here, and I also shot some vehicles from the side, but this format is not so easy to stage. At night, the vehicles are also very elaborately lit and I actually wanted to create a series with a black background. It would be a very nice contrast to my bright pictures, but technically it was not feasible as the contrast at night from the brightest point to the darkest was too great. Eleven years ago, when I photographed my first trucks in Pakistan, it was already clear that I didn't want to show the surroundings under any circumstances. The trucks are usually in a very dusty and very dirty environment and that would diminish the beauty of these vehicles and also the focus would shift to the surroundings, which I would not allow artistically under any circumstances.