2007年VOA标准英语-Embassy Showcases Pakistani Truck Art

By Tabinda Naeem
Washington
25 June 2007
 

The Pakistani Embassy in Washington, DC recently hosted an exhibit of artwork and artifacts depicting¹ the nation's rich cultural heritage.  The centerpiece of the exhibit was a whimsically decorated truck, demonstrating the unique role Pakistani truck art plays in society. 

In Pakistan, art is not necessarily confined to galleries; it is also found on the road. More specifically it is found on vehicles on the road.

Pakistani Embassy art exhibition includes traditional truck art

Truck art is a major part of Pakistani culture.

Jonathon Mark Kenoyer, an anthropology² professor at the University of Michigan, says, "The paint jobs identify competing ethnic³ groups just as the different designs did on ancient pottery⁴ and later on fabrics⁵ and carpets." 

Norma Sparks, president of Friends of Pakistan, is reminded of the time she spent in Pakistan when she sees the truck art. "I spent about 14 years in Pakistan.  As soon as I saw the bus, the decorated bus, I just felt quite at home.  I used to drive behind them every day.  So it's a wonderful art form."

The exhibition commemorates⁶ Pakistan's 60th anniversary of independence. It displays beautiful crafts, wall hangings, embroidered⁷ shawls and ancient jewelry⁸. By juxtaposing the modern works with the ancient crafts, the exhibition curators seek to link the culture's ancient traditions with modern Pakistani art. 

Huma Mustafa Baig

Huma Mustafa Baig is the executive director of Serendip Productions, a television production company in Pakistan.  She spoke⁹ of Pakistan's unique art form. "When I consider Pakistan's national art form, I immediately think of the truck art.  This is part of our culture, and it needs to be exposed to the rest of the world."

The large turnout shows that many Americans are interested in Pakistani art. 

Anne Patterson, who was recently nominated as the U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, enjoyed the exhibit. "We have been very impressed with the variety and the skill of the Pakistani crafts that are here.  I didn't know anything about Pakistani crafts, except my trip to Pakistan and the region.  I had bought some of the crafts, but I certainly wouldn't claim to be an expert.  But, again, I think they're beautiful." 

With a palate as vast as the open road, the only limit on Pakistani truck art is the owner's imagination.

1 depicting   

描绘，描画( depict的现在分词 )； 描述

参考例句：

• a painting depicting the Virgin and Child 一幅描绘童贞马利亚和圣子耶稣的画
• The movie depicting the battles and bloodshed is bound to strike home. 这部描写战斗和流血牺牲的影片一定会取得预期效果。

2 anthropology   

n.人类学

参考例句：

• I believe he has started reading up anthropology.我相信他已开始深入研究人类学。
• Social anthropology is centrally concerned with the diversity of culture.社会人类学主要关于文化多样性。

3 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

4 pottery   

n.陶器，陶器场

参考例句：

• My sister likes to learn art pottery in her spare time.我妹妹喜欢在空余时间学习陶艺。
• The pottery was left to bake in the hot sun.陶器放在外面让炎热的太阳烘晒焙干。

5 fabrics   

织物( fabric的名词复数 )； 布； 构造； （建筑物的）结构（如墙、地面、屋顶）：质地

参考例句：

• cotton fabrics and synthetics 棉织物与合成织物
• The fabrics are merchandised through a network of dealers. 通过经销网点销售纺织品。

6 commemorates   

n.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的名词复数 )v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A tombstone is erected in memory of whoever it commemorates. 墓碑是为纪念它所纪念的人而建的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A tablet commemorates his patriotic activities. 碑文铭记他的爱国行动。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 embroidered   

adj．绣花的

参考例句：

• She embroidered flowers on the cushion covers. 她在这些靠垫套上绣了花。
• She embroidered flowers on the front of the dress. 她在连衣裙的正面绣花。

8 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

9 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。