Singapore’s master potter, Dr. Iskandar Jalil, celebrated for his outstanding ceramics practice, and his contributions to education and cultural development, is a recipient of numerous accolades including the nation’s highest cultural honours, the Cultural Medallion [1988] and the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun - Gold Rays with Rosette [2015] by the Japanese government. In recognition of his role and influence as a ceramist and educator, Iskandar was conferred an honorary Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in 2016 and awarded two Colombo Plan Scholarships to study textiles in India in 1966 and ceramics in Japan 1972. His practice consistently pushes the boundaries of the functional clay vessel, exploring more sculptural qualities and configurations. With his unique ‘pottery voice’ and identity, Iskandar Jalil is feted as an iconic figure in Singapore’s ceramics art development.
