Wow! Peter Grant’s images of decorated Pakistani vehicles are a feast for the eyes.

They also are a statement about how we conceive of our belongings (especially vehicles) as expressions of our own selves.

In Los Angeles (my hometown), it’s well-known that “you are what you drive”. Sad, but true. Your identity is defined by your vehicle. This is true in many parts of the United States, but Los Angeles represents the extreme. In other locales, you are your mobile device. In haredi Jerusalem, you are what you push… er, that is strollers, not drugs.

What do these images of Pakistani truck decorating teach us about self-image, image idealization, and identification with the vehicle? To what extent does this tell us anything about how people in that same culture relate to their possessions, including consumer electronics, homes… and perhaps relatives?

[via Street Use]