Who hasn’t created a quirky one-liner and wanted to put it on a T-shirt? And if the t-shirt bit isn’t an option, when someone thinks of something clever, it might go straight to their social media. The impulse to share our thoughts and feelings and seek validation for them pervades human nature; we can’t help it—because don’t we all like a bit of attention at heart?

In Siddhartha Art Gallery’s latest exhibition, “Sawari Kathahru: Art in Motion,” witty phrases found on trucks, along with the desire to share them with the world, are on full display. This exhibition celebrates 'truck poetry' and shayaris adorning vehicles, showcasing the humour and creativity of the drivers who compose these verses and the artists who bring them to life.

This multimedia exhibition includes a documentary entitled ‘Literature on Wheels’ by Urza Acharya, the gallery’s media coordinator. It features photographs by writer Sravasti Ghosh and Abushan Gautam, a journalist based in London and illustrations by graphic designer Shubha Joshi. Additionally, visitors can engage with interviews featuring truck drivers, available on loop through headphones, and enjoy an intriguing table game.

Various sections of photographs that labelled religion, love, and politics show how these one-liners span various genres. Browsing through the photographs of trucks adorned with various wit, humour, highs, and lows is a delightful experience; each image is bound to elicit a giggle. My favourite is ‘Kancha, Love Ma Dhoka Khanu Bhanda Aau, Mero Bike Pachadi Basera Ktm Ko Dhulo Khau.’

This roughly translates to; Come, sit on my bike because it’s better to inhale Kathmandu’s dust than to be deceived in love.

However, beneath the surface of humour and wit, keen viewers will notice something intriguing: the truck art and poems serve as an unofficial archive, reflecting the evolution of the country’s politics, religious practices and social interactions.

While frequent travellers on Nepal’s roads are familiar with this unique form of expression, viewing the various images together makes viewers contemplate its evolution over the years. Take, for instance, the increasing appearance of Balen Shah in truck art, the mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City—a testament to his political popularity.

Political discussions such as those concerning the ‘Greater Nepal’ map are also popular subjects in truck art. While truck art mostly reflects the consciousness, opinions and feelings of individual drivers, collectively, it also mirrors the prevailing ideas, opinions and perspectives within our country.

The documentary ‘Literature on Wheels’ is an interesting glimpse into the world of truck art. Its quirky, upbeat music and font directly mirror the uplifting and unserious mood of truck shayaris and truck poems. This documentary provides a behind-the-scenes look, interviewing drivers and artists to uncover how truck art is conceived and applied.

The documentary is heartwarming. While watching it, I couldn’t help but feel that, deep down, we are all poets driven by an innate need to share our emotions and artistic expressions with the world. It left me with a profound appreciation for the universal human inclination towards artistry, regardless of our backgrounds or occupations.

There is a table game in the exhibition that adds to the fun while you appreciate truck art as you browse through the photographs. It is an immersive game that encourages you to make your poem. While I may have lingered a bit too long on this aspect—letting my quirkiness shine through—I wouldn't be surprised if you find yourself spending an extended period here as well, fully immersed in the fun and creativity it offers.

Despite the exhibition’s many strengths, I couldn’t help but notice that, in some ways, it feels disjointed. I believe it might not be ready to fully embrace its status as a multimedia exploration. While all the exhibition components share the common theme of illuminating Nepali truck art, the absence of a cohesive narrative or overarching framework seems to cause the multimedia effort to falter.

Individually, each component of the exhibition shines brightly. I couldn’t shake the feeling that a unifying storyline or thematic thread connecting all the experiences would have made the exhibition more engaging and immersive.

The interview presented in headphones on a loop is somewhat confusing because of its non-linearity. This aspect could be improved by replacing it with musical shayaris playing on a loop instead. This adjustment would better align with the exhibition’s goal of fostering an appreciation for poetry and art than the current interview format.

Making a point that says truck art, often viewed as gaudy, deserves appreciation by framing them in an art exhibition, while well-intentioned, may not fully convey the intended message and could be perceived as slightly disconnected from the exhibition's overall theme. Perhaps considering additional approaches, such as including more in-depth interviews in a video format with drivers and artists, could have better highlighted the significance of appreciating truck art within the context of the exhibition.

This exhibition highlights the often-overlooked art surrounding us daily and validates its significance. I am looking forward to this exhibition and all its components continuing to develop and evolve, perhaps with the addition of a captivating storyline or poetic symbolism. It would be wonderful to see a longer documentary and a wider selection of photographs that delve into the stories of the drivers and artists behind this art form.

To truly stand out, this exhibition can provide more than just a compilation of truck poetry. I believe it requires something deeper, something more profound. After all, truck poetry is readily visible outside; offering additional evocative elements would have enhanced the art exhibition experience. With a more cohesive approach, I believe this concept has the potential to become an even more enriching experience.