Katya Traboulsi, a Lebanese multimedia artist, deeply rooted in Lebanese culture and tradition, showcases this connection vividly in her works Ya Watani, 2023 and Helo Ya Rawak, 2023. Through these pieces, she highlights the symbolic significance of the Lebanese pick-up truck as a representation of the nation’s visual culture and heritage.

Lebanese pick-up trucks, adorned with brightly colored calligraphy and intricate designs, serve as more than just vehicles for transportation. They are canvases of cultural expression and symbols of protection for the drivers traversing the country’s roads daily. Often featuring phrases and symbols rooted in Lebanese oral heritage and vernacular (such as evil eye motifs, “وزعينك”, “شيل عينك عني وما عليك مني”), these trucks reflect the drivers’ beliefs, values, and hopes for safe travels amidst the inherent risks of the road.

Drawing inspiration from the diverse geographical and aesthetic characteristics of Lebanese trucks, Traboulsi’s ironworks pay homage to Tripoli, the trucks’ origin point, while reflecting her own cultural influences. Her artwork captures and embodies the aesthetic traditions that link Lebanon’s northern region to the rest of the country, incorporating distinctive vernacular styles, traditional calligraphy, and abstracted floral motifs and birds inspired by cultural imagery unique to Lebanese pick-up trucks. In essence, these trucks serve as vital channels of connection and communication across the Lebanese landscape. Messages proliferate on their back doors or tailgates—offering advice, jokes, warnings, declarations of love, prayers, and protections against the evil eye. 

The artist’s engagement with Lebanese popular culture, particularly in relation to issues such as cultural heritage and identity, has a distinct focus on a form of celebratory appreciation. Through her work, Traboulsi intertwines themes of solidarity and ritual, allowing the viewer to connect with the familiarity these iconic representations cultivate. In moments of shared experience, such as during a traffic jam, these messages foster bonds among strangers from different classes, sects, or regions. They elicit smiles, impart lessons, and cultivate a sense of communality. In this way, as portrayed by Traboulsi, the trucks become more than mere vehicles; they become vessels of cultural exchange, fostering moments of connection, introspection, and joy.