[31] Secondary: The Musical (2026) by Mud Rock Ceramics

Mud Rock Ceramics’ Michelle describes her work and creative process:

This was a masterpiece of a musical/play. I don’t think anyone walked out of this show without crying and/or laughing till they teared. The topics on the poverty cycle and dejection really got to me because of my time teaching in ITE, having lost students and friends to suicide. Other than the heartbreaks, there was also much joy when seeing them succeed in ways big and small. I wouldn’t change those experiences for the world, yet I went home crying to sleep that night because I had never felt so seen till that show. What was also brilliant in the show were the five emotions: humour, empathy, optimism, discipline and panic. These five emotions are displayed all over this special piece inspired by ‘Secondary’.

Glazed in flowy and runny glazes, showing emotions through colours and textures. Green for empathy, blue for discipline, yellow for humour, white for optimism, and red for panic.

Specifications:
– Medium: Stoneware, green, blue, yellow, white and red glossy glazes, reduction-fired three times
– Dimensions: 15 x 12 x 16 cm (L x B x H cm)
– Auction winner will receive a physical certificate of confirmation. We will reach out within 5 working days after the event to make delivery arrangements.

About Secondary: The Musical:
Secondary: The Musical by weish explores the pressures of Singapore’s education system through the eyes of young Literature teacher Lilin, who is trying to make it through another term in Huxley Secondary School. Alongside Lilin are her Secondary 3 students who are also trying to handle challenges in school and at home with bravery and grace.

Secondary: The Musical has won Production of the Year at the 2025 ST Life Theatre Awards. This musical has also earned six nominations, including Best Original Script for weish, Best Director for Huzir Sulaiman, Best Costume for Max Tan, Best Supporting Actor for Teoh Jun Vinh and Best Supporting Actress for Rebekah Sangeetha Dorai. Secondary: The Musical returned earlier this year in April 2026 to a wider audience.

“Believe the hype, this show is redefining musicals in Singapore.”

– @mimscheong

About Mud Rock Ceramics:
Mud Rock is a ceramic studio based in Singapore, founded by ceramics artists Ng Seok Har and Michelle Lim, who have each been practising ceramics professionally for over 17 years.

We are makers of mud and clay who bond over the love of beautiful ceramics that serve us daily. From multiple bowls to a single sculpture, we find a never-ending joy in making, exploring and serving with clay.

With our own kilns, glaze laboratory and equipment, we are able to produce works, glaze formulas and even clay types for specific needs. Though dedicated to our craft, we believe in collaborations to see how our medium can complement others and to learn from those experiences.

Our current clientele comprises restaurants, design companies, architecture firms, government bodies, corporate organisations, and the quirky individual. With over 14 years of experience in the ceramics industry locally and internationally, we provide consultation on various ceramics projects as well.

With tongue-in-cheek, Mud Rock is named in reference to the local sub-culture of ‘Mat Rok’ in Singapore, as ceramic craft too is often teased as a sub-culture of the Arts. Michelle Lim and Ng Seok Har both fell in love with pottery on their individual journeys before coming together.

Driven by a lifelong love for the arts, Ng Seok Har left the banking industry to reinvest and develop her skills in ceramics making. Her journey in pottery started in Tokyo, Japan. Returning to Singapore, she continued her training intensively with a local potter, Jaqueline Low, before taking on an apprenticeship with a Thai ceramics production house under the guidance of the renowned Thai master, Somluk Pantiboon. Since then, Seok has been a full-time potter in Mud Rock and has exhibited locally and internationally as well.

As a professional ceramicist, craftsperson and maker, Michelle is versatile and cross-disciplinary. She has been an industrial designer and educator of youth at risk, for which she has received awards, and has exhibited in several local and international solo and group ceramic shows. During her Ceramics Degree, she was awarded the much-coveted Sir Geoffrey Yeend Scholarship, and completed her Bachelor’s majoring in Ceramics with First Class Honours at the Australian National University. She has been practising ceramics for over 15 years now. As the co-founder of Awaken the Dragon, Singapore’s ceramics festival, Michelle has given TED talks on Ceramics in Singapore and also guest lectured at Art and Design schools in Singapore.

“To hear Ng Seok Har and Michelle Lim talk about pottery is to experience love. They wax lyrical about how a vase is made, from the kneading and throwing of the clay, to bestowing it a form on the wheel, till it’s baptised by fire in the kiln.”

— “Obsessed Much: Ceramics” by Esquire Singapore

Mud Rock Ceramics Founders describe their work and creative process:

“If we can’t appreciate the beauty and craft behind a cup we use and hold to our lips daily, how can we understand fine art cases in museums?” [Mud Rock Ceramics] wanted to show others a connection between ceramics as a functional utility and an artistic object.

— Tatler Asia