Ideology:“I am both potter and gardener” is a pronouncement Dr Iskandar often makes. The potter’s dedication to his garden and to plants is well-documented. Flower Vase brings together Dr Iskandar’s love for gardening and nature with his respect for Nordic pottery design. Travels to these countries deepened his appreciation of Finland’s Fiskars and design studios such as Kähler whose Omaggio striped vase was a staple in Danish households. This iconic striped vase was so desired that it triggered the ‘Kähler Vase Scandal’ in 2014 when thousands of Danes were denied their vase because of limited supply. Dr Iskandar furnishes a new twist to the popular ‘stripe’ in ceramic-ware. Moving away from the slick, polished surfaces that typified these striped vessels, Dr Iskandar used a coarse grain raku clay to create surface texture. He eschewed thin-walled elongated forms, creating instead a squat, trumpet-shaped beaker vase (sometimes jardinière) with thicker walls. The neck of Dr Iskandar’s vase leads gently to a flared or splayed mouth that can hold a copious bouquet of cut flowers. Dr Iskandar’s ‘stripes’ are ample bands in yellow and grey encircling its body. The final result effectively infuses the stylised and graphic quality of ‘the stripe’ with earthiness and a new depth.
Detail of Work:Year created : 2015-16 Weight : 2.5kg Dimension : H 15.5 x 28 x 28 cm Technical Info:Wheel thrown High-fired at 1300ºC, reduction gas-firing Material:Stoneware (raku clay) Glaze:Sprayed with transparent and matt black glaze. Brushed with stripes of manganese and iron oxide Seal:1 sakura motif, c.1990s
