Indian and Pakistani artists paint truck art mural on Mansoura walls in Qatar

Doha: As part of JedariArt, an initiatives to breathing life into urban spaces across Doha, artists from India and Pakistan painted two adjacent walls outside Al Mansoura Metro Station in the popular form of truck art, a regional decoration featuring floral patterns and calligraphy.

Pakistani truck art mural by Phool Patti; Pic: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula 

Named after the practice that evolves from customising of trucks and buses in the Asian countries, the truck art mural at Mansoura was the brain child of All India Permit duo Akhlaq Ahmad aka Shabbu Painter and Farid Bawa and Phool Patti team that includes Ali Salman Anchan, Mumtaz Ahmed and Muhammad Amin. 

While the Pakistani truck mural portrayed nature and its various elements with the message of Qatar-Pakistan Friendship written in the centre, the Indian team showcased a vibrant typography with motifs and slogans in seven languages (Hindi, English, Bangla, Punjabi, Arabic, Urdu and Telugu) inspired from the Indian trucks. 

All India Permit duo showcased a vibrant typography; Pic: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula 

Ali Salman Anchan said, "we have tried to portray the beauty of Pakistan's heritage through out art form on the Mansoura walls. The truck art mural is the embodiment of Phool Patti's dedication to the cause of promoting Pakistan’s rich heritage and culture." He further added that they tried to design the best masterpiece and "Alhamdulillah received an outstanding response, everybody started loving it."

Collage of various elements painted by Phool Patti; Pic: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula 

Once the mural was painted the artists explored Doha and were amazed at the art installations in the country as Farid Bawa stated, "I have always been amazed by the art installations at the airport, but this time while exploring Doha I realised what an open air art museum the city is. Happy to be a part of it now." 

Collage of elements depicted by All India Permit; Pic: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula 

Qatar Museums initiated the collaboration to bring these traditional art forms to the streets of Doha. Abdulrahman Ahmed Al Ishaq, Director of Public Art at Qatar Museums said: “Jedariart is a public art programme that aims to provide a tangible sense of space for the wider community and create new tourist attractions across the city. Qatar Museums is delighted to have All India Permit and Phool Patti on board to adorn city walls with murals.”