15 Photos by Christopher Herwig That Celebrate the Wild Beauty of Southeast Asia’s ‘Trucks and Tuks’

For decades, the roads of South and Southeast Asia have been rolling art galleries — where every truck and tuk tuk is a bold canvas bursting with stories, faith, and flair. Photographer Christopher Herwig, famed for his Soviet Bus Stops series, hits the road once again, this time chasing color and culture across 10,000 kilometers in his dazzling new project, Trucks and Tuks.

From Pakistan’s mountain passes to Sri Lanka’s seaside streets, Herwig documents the wild, imaginative world of local drivers who transform their humble rides into jaw-dropping masterpieces. Picture this: roaring trucks crowned with wooden “princess tiaras,” painted with exotic birds, divine deities, or even pop-culture icons like the Joker. Each vehicle becomes a personal diary — a reflection of its driver’s dreams, pride, and humor.

In Pakistan, it’s a celebration of craftsmanship — metalwork, mirror art, and poetic slogans that shout identity and passion. Move further south, and tuk tuks in Sri Lanka or Thailand explode with charm — decked out in chrome, neon lights, and cheeky one-liners. It’s folk art on wheels, a cultural parade that never stops moving.

But Herwig’s project isn’t just eye candy. It’s also a time capsule. As modernization and strict regulations push these flamboyant customs aside, Trucks and Tuks preserves the heartbeat of a disappearing tradition. Through his lens, Herwig doesn’t just show vehicles — he captures the pride, humor, and humanity that fuel them.

This series is a love letter to the roads of Southeast Asia — where creativity rides shotgun, and every turn tells a story painted in fearless color.

You can find Christopher Herwig on the Web:

#1. Lahore, Pakistan

Lahore, Pakistan - Trucks and Tuks of Southeast Asia Vehicles by Christopher Herwig

#2. Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Rawalpindi, Pakistan - Trucks and Tuks of Southeast Asia Vehicles by Christopher Herwig

#3. Battaramula, Sri Lanka

Battaramula, Sri Lanka - Trucks and Tuks of Southeast Asia Vehicles by Christopher Herwig

#4. Kalimati, Nepal

Kalimati, Nepal - Trucks and Tuks of Southeast Asia Vehicles by Christopher Herwig

#5. Trucks and Tuks

Trucks and Tuks - Trucks and Tuks of Southeast Asia Vehicles by Christopher Herwig

#6. Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dhaka, Bangladesh - Trucks and Tuks of Southeast Asia Vehicles by Christopher Herwig

#7. Jodhpur, India

Jodhpur, India - Trucks and Tuks of Southeast Asia Vehicles by Christopher Herwig

#8. Ratnapura, Sri Lanka

Ratnapura, Sri Lanka - Trucks and Tuks of Southeast Asia Vehicles by Christopher Herwig

#9. Kathmandu, Nepal

Kathmandu, Nepal - Trucks and Tuks of Southeast Asia Vehicles by Christopher Herwig

#10. Ahangama, Sri Lanka

Ahangama, Sri Lanka - Trucks and Tuks of Southeast Asia Vehicles by Christopher Herwig

#11. Attock, Pakistan

Attock, Pakistan - Trucks and Tuks of Southeast Asia Vehicles by Christopher Herwig

#12. Taxila, Pakistan

Taxila, Pakistan - Trucks and Tuks of Southeast Asia Vehicles by Christopher Herwig

#13. Lahore, Pakistan

Lahore, Pakistan - Trucks and Tuks of Southeast Asia Vehicles by Christopher Herwig

#14. Jodhpur, India

Jodhpur, India - Trucks and Tuks of Southeast Asia Vehicles by Christopher Herwig

#15. Ratnapura, Sri Lanka

Ratnapura, Sri Lanka - Trucks and Tuks of Southeast Asia Vehicles by Christopher Herwig


Related Articles: