A VINTAGE Vauxhall truck is being transformed into a work of art by a group of young Lutonians.
Inspired by Pakistani truck art, the group is giving the 1960s vehicle a creative makeover, and its finished product will take part in this year’s Luton Carnival and Luton Mela.
The truck is part of an exhibition at the Discovery Centre which was launched on Monday, attended by the Mayor of Luton and the High Commissioner for Pakistan.
Jane Showell of the Discovery Centre, said: “This project has been really great for everyone involved. The truck looks fantastic and everyone worked really hard.”
The team, made up of 20 volunteers aged between 13 and 20, were helped by Pakistani truck artist Haider Ali and UK folk wagon artist Rory Coxhill.
Rory spent three months in Pakistan as part of an artist exchange programme and is now back in the UK working with Haider.
One of the youth team members, Jamie, said: “This project has helped me to understand how Pakistani truck art can be linked to Luton’s local history with the use of the Bedford truck, which is an important part of our heritage.”
The group wanted to show both Pakistani and Luton culture on the vehicle so one side of it is based on Pakistan and one is based on Luton.
The Luton side features landmarks such as the Wardown Park bridge and the museum.
Although the truck was made in Bedfordshire, it spent several years in Malta which is why it remains in such good condition, as the country is drier and the vehicle has been well preserved.
Ms Showell said: “It still runs perfectly which will be good for the carnival. We spent ages searching for a truck exactly like the ones in Pakistan, although they decorate theirs so much that they end up looking different anyway, but this one is the same as those that they use.”
The tradition of painting trucks in Pakistan began as a way for drivers to take reminders of home with them on long journeys.
Pakistani trucks are colourful and vibrant, decorated with wood, metal, jangling chains and shiny objects.
Luton Culture helped the young artists with their truck decoration by teaching them about exhibition development, researching folk art traditions and taking them on research trips to museums in London including the V &A where they learnt about Islamic Art.
The exhibition at the Discovery Centre tells the story of how they explored Pakistan’s history and heritage and the story of the Bedford truck.
The launch was also attended by members of the London 2012 games committee as the truck art project is part of Stories of the World: Eastern Exchanges programme, one of the London 2012 projects.
Stories of the World aims to welcome the world to Britain by using museum collections to show the UK’s relationships with the rest of the world.
The East of England is celebrating links with Eastern countries such as China, India and Pakistan with a range of activities led by museums.
Luton is focused on Pakistan due to the strong Pakistani community already in the area.
Ms Showell said: “What made the London 2012 bid really stand out was that we offered cultural opportunities.”
“The volunteers researched folk art in England and Pakistan and used this as inspiration for their work.
“It’s all part of the 2012 cultural festival.”
To mark the opening of the exhibition, visitors are invited to decorate their own mini Vauxhall Bedford trucks on Saturday.
> For more information on the truck exhibition visit www.stockwooddiscoverycentre.com.