Aero-matic rice truck art
2009 November 3
Sri Lanka’s traditional wooden chase trucks have an interesting mix of traditional and modern motifs. This example (a rice truck I suppose) seems to emphasis the modern. Despite the otherwise familiar landscape vignettes , the collision course airplanes give a the design an unusual sense of movement. Air traffic control people will find this slightly uneasy though. 
High time for a truck art post indeed. Here’s the picture:
cool design!
Great art Cerno. I’m no aviation expert but I suspect those planes are a bit too front heavy looking to actually be airworthy.
Yeah, some are really intricate.
I love some of the bumper-sticker-type-messages too. Recently I snapped up some similar looking “lorries” which had “Horn OK Please” and “Great OK India” on them. Is there a way to upload pictures here?
What I found interesting was that the very old ones actually use to feature paddy fields. The beautiful lush green types. This looks more a template.
They can’t even have two different planes anymore ?!!! eww.
Sign of times, I guess.
A clear lack of passion for this art.
Or do you think it is a pure cost cutting thing ?
Was the name always printed so loudly ?
I actually remember all the panels covered in artwork before and the name would only appear on the sides. Perhaps my memory is fading.
Also the elaborate designs that were used to outlines are also gone.
See the squiggly outline of the name in this and also the squiggles on the adjoining panels. When Harrison company in Panadura used to build the “lorry body” in the 70s and 80s these outlines were elaborate designs from old Sri Lankan art. [e.g. you would often see the good ol pineapple flower].
This seem so Microsoft
Chavie: quite right. I didn’t realise how symmetrical it is!
RD: Good eye there
Yes the wings are too far towards the tail. I think the front was stretched forward to fit the panel.
Bimal: Would love to see your pic – just put them up on a blog post and leave the URL in a comment on this blog
Anne: Well things do change and I’m sure cost cutting must be a major factor. I can’t remember how elaborate truck art were/was when I was growing up. Did you know anyone with the Harrison company in Panadura? Never heard of them till you mentioned it. Tell me more
Lorries – Indian style, check it out…
http://as-good-as.blogspot.com/2009/11/bumper-stickers.html
Thank you
Quite a nice collection. Hope you expand it. Where did you take those pic?
These were taken in Mumbai, India.