OF CLAY AND GUNDUS
POTTER
AND TEACHER ISKANDAR JALIL,
ALJUNIED GRC
- Sharon Lim
Mr Iskandar does not suffer fools. An art
teacher for over 40 years, the 64-year-old has been known to throw his
students' work out of the window. He demands innovation and creativity.
"If I have 20 students in a class, I expect to have 20 different
ideas," says the Cultural Medallion winner who has won many accolades
and awards for his work as a potter. "
When I was teaching at Temasek Polytechnic, I once told the principal
that the School of Design library should be burnt! That's because some
students just copy from the books!"
Pottery may have made him famous but it's in his role as a teacher
that his legacy lies. And one suspects it's this role that he relishes.
In his book, Square One, he says, "Gundus, cartoons, kachuaks (cockroaches),
lau-kaus (monkeys), gobloks, mental retard. All the names I used to
call my students were well remembered long after. I did it to provoke
them to higher aspirations. To challenge them to a dialogue with me...
to make them think."
And those who do, get his fullest support. For the past 30 years, many
young Malays who've secured places in overseas universities to study
the arts have had their plane tickets sponsored by Mr Iskandar. "It's
the rascals, the not academically inclined, who have the most potential
to be successful. That's because they are always thinking," he
adds vehemently.
The theme of grooming and supporting young artists dominated the interview.
Putting his money where his mouth is, he uses budding photographers
to capture images of his work and exhibitions. His printed collateral
was designed by his students. He is also grooming four hand-picked and
very dedicated pottery students.
Whether it's clay or students, there's no doubt that Mr Iskandar is
every bit the master potter, able to tease out their best.
