"After capturing Soviet bus stops and metro stations (find designboom's previous coverage here), Christopher Herwig now shifts his attention to the roads of South Asia. His forthcoming book Trucks and Tuks, published by FUEL, documents the vibrant artwork found on ordinary vehicles. Over four years and 10,000 kilometers, Herwig recorded a colorful tradition in which trucks and tuk tuks carry the dreams, identities, and aspirations of their drivers."
"The decorated vehicles of the Indian subcontinent are saturated with imagery of white stallions galloping beneath waterfalls, Bollywood stars bursting into song, sunset lovers silhouetted against the sea, or divine figures sharing space with cartoon villains. Every surface is covered, from bumpers to windshields, revealing an improvisational artistry that is at once deeply personal and immediately public. A driver's faith, political ideals, or sense of humor find expression in bright paint, bold typography, and an ever-changing mix of motifs."
"Regional differences emerge across the lens of Canadian photographer Christopher Herwig. In Pakistan, for example, trucks are often crowned with a distinctive curved wooden peak, likened to a princess' tiara, while in Sri Lanka, tuk tuks carry images ranging from sacred deities to Batman's Joker. Typography across vehicles might command fellow drivers to 'blow horn' or carry social messages like promoting girls' education."
Over four years and 10,000 kilometers, vibrant roadside vehicle artwork across South Asia was documented. Trucks and tuk tuks are saturated with imagery—white stallions, Bollywood stars, sunset lovers, divine figures, and cartoon villains—covering bumpers to windshields. Bright paint, bold typography, and eclectic motifs express drivers' faith, political ideals, humor, and personal identities. Regional styles vary: Pakistani trucks often wear curved wooden peaks; Sri Lankan tuk tuks display sacred deities alongside pop-culture characters. Painted messages range from 'blow horn' commands to social campaigns like girls' education. Government regulations and cheap mass-produced decorations pose threats to the continuity of this vernacular art.
Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine
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