Icons of Art and Expression: Exploring the journeys of 3 Cultural Medallion recipients
National Arts Council
We champion an arts sector that inspires society, sparks creativity and connects Singapore to the world.
Having recently celebrated Singapore’s National Day, let’s take a moment to recognise how #OurSGArts scene has contributed to?developing our identity and culture!?
From inspiring new generations of ceramic artists to touching the hearts of readers through observations of everyday life, discover the achievements and stories of three of our Cultural Medallion recipients and their significant impact on #OurSGArts scene in this month’s edition of Cultural Medallion Spotlight.?
Clay Camp Singapore
In the realm of artistic mastery, few names resonate as profoundly as Iskandar Jalil, a luminary in the world of ceramic art and a recipient of the Cultural Medallion in 1988. Born in 1940 in Singapore, Iskandar's journey through life has been a profound exploration of art, culture, and identity.
Singapore's rich tapestry of culture nurtured Iskandar's artistic sensibilities. As he embarked on his?creative journey, his deep connection to his Malay heritage, and?exposure to?Southeast Asia and Japan's diverse artistic traditions shaped his distinctive artistic voice.
Iskandar originally trained and worked as a maths and science teacher. A Colombo Plan scholarship brought him to Japan, where he nurtured his passion for pottery. Once he returned to Singapore after studying abroad, Iskandar embarked on a lifelong mission to push the boundaries of ceramic artistry.?
He creates organic, textured works of clay that marry Japanese discipline and philosophy with Southeast Asian and Islamic motifs and inspirations from his travels. Iskandar even has a blue oxide colour named after him, “Iskandar Blue”. His works feature in many public and private collections, including those of the National Museum of Sweden, Sultan of Brunei and Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
Beyond his artistic practice, his impact also extended far beyond the confines of his studio. As a dedicated educator, he influenced generations of artists, sharing his knowledge and passion for ceramics with his students.? He is also an active promoter of the arts, having served as arts advisor to the National Arts Council and a committee member of the Creative Arts Centre at the 新加坡国立大学 and the Singapore Art Museum in the 90s. His commitment to fostering creativity and instilling? cultural heritage earned him the admiration and respect of peers and proteges alike.
Continuing his passion for teaching, Iskandar, alongside other world-renowned ceramic masters, will showcase their work and impart? their knowledge and wisdom through lectures, masterclasses, and demonstrations at Clay Camp Singapore. Organised by Mud Rock, Clay Camp will take place from 27 Sep to 3 Oct 2023 at multiple venues around the island.?
Visit Clay Camp Singapore’s website to purchase tickets starting from $180 onwards.
Teaching Cats to Jump Hoops
Tham Yew Chin, known by her pen name You Jin, is a Cultural Medallion recipient (conferred in 2009) whose captivating narratives have helped to pave Singapore's literary landscape for future aspiring authors.?
Born in Ipoh, Malaysia, in 1950, Yew Chin moved to Singapore with her family when she was eight . Her journey from a precocious young writer to a celebrated author is a testament to her unwavering dedication to her craft. An avid reader of Chinese literature since she was young, she was the daughter of a war hero who fought in the resistance movement during the Japanese Occupation of Malaysia and grew up with a strong sense of moral duty and a hunger for the betterment of others.
She started her writing career when she published an essay at 11 titled I Wish To Be A Fairy Tale Writer. The essay stemmed from her desire to write meaningful fairy tales for children when she grew up. While she did not write any fairy tales in her literary career, You Jin became known for her touching and humorous travelogues, which was informed by her affirmative attitude towards life, like all her other writing. Another notable feature of her writing is the use of real-life stories and accounts, which she gleaned from her travels and interactions with students. From thought-provoking opinion pieces that explored social issues to evocative novels that captured the nuances of human experiences, Yew Chin's work resonated deeply with readers across generations for their wit, warmth, humour and humanity.?
One such famous work is ‘Teaching Cats to Jump Hoops’,?a collection of funny and heartwarming stories about a teacher confronted with misfits and loners, rebellious dropouts and overbearing, even abusive parents. The book combines an assured style with sensitive portrayals and was the first translation into English of a popular voice in Chinese literature.
Both the physical and e-book versions are available from our National Libraries. The book is also available for purchase at Epigram Books’ online store.
The Tower
Isa Kamari grew up in a family with a deep appreciation for language and storytelling. His fascination with words was ignited early, setting the stage for a remarkable literary career.?
Trained as an architect, Isa is the first non-full-time artist to receive the prestigious Cultural Medallion award. He pursues the arts in his free time, keeping to a disciplined writing schedule after his work. He also uses the time spent commuting on buses to develop ideas for his creative works and finds inspiration in the aural and visual stimulus that public transportation provides. His exploration of diverse themes, ranging from spirituality and identity to historical reflection, showcased his ability to capture the essence of the human experience.
Isa's literary journey gained momentum with the publication of his debut novel, "Salina," which not only garnered critical acclaim but also marked the emergence of a distinctive voice in Singaporean literature. He has won numerous accolades for his writing, including the Hadiah Sastera, Anugerah Persuratan, the Southeast Asian Write Award, the Cultural Medallion and the Anugerah Tun Seri Lanang.
In 2013, he published ‘The Tower’, translated for the first time into English by Alfian Sa’at at Epigram Books. In this masterful tale of success and failure, follow a successful architect as he visits the new skyscraper he designed. As he climbs the tower with Ilham, his clerk of works, he reflects upon his life and spiritual journey in an increasingly materialistic world. Memories of a dark past plague him as he struggles to reach the top,? woven into the narrative as a series of fables and elliptical digressions, mirroring his increasingly fractured state of mind.
Both the physical and e-book versions are available from our National Libraries. The book is also available for purchase at Epigram Books’ online store.