Japanese artist's new series celebrates diversity of Malaysian plants and herbs

Japanese artist/illustrator Sanae Yamada's love for Malaysian plants and herbs began when she moved to the country over 20 years ago. Photo: Sanae Yamada

After almost 20 years of living in Malaysia, Japanese artist/illustrator Sanae Yamada has added many new specimens to the tropical plants catalogue in her mind. At her home in Negri Sembilan, she has a garden where she grows herbs like misai kuching (Orthosiphon aristatus) and butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) to make into tea or use in food.

“I am also constantly finding new plants at the public gardens, roadside, neighbours’ gardens and the backyard of my mother-in-law’s house in Johor. Tropical plants often surprise me because of their unique shape and colours. Some of them also grow very quickly,” she says.

Yamada, 50, studied fine art at Kyoto City University of Art in Japan. She moved to Malaysia in 2003, after marrying a Malaysian.

In recent years, her art, reflecting her surroundings, predominantly focuses on flora and fauna of the tropics.

“When I was a child, I watched my grandmother making tea and medicine from plants. When I learned about ekor anjing (Plantago major) in Malaysia, I recall that it is the same plant my grandmother used to treat my boils when I was young. But the variety in Malaysia is bigger than the one we have in Japan,” she notes.

This month, Yamada – who also dabbles in handmade macrame jewellery – is presenting a new collection of works, featuring local herbs.

Organised by Museum Picture Book Art, Herba - Culinary And Medicinal Herbs Nurtured By The Land Of Malaysia is being held at the creative hub GMBB in Kuala Lumpur. The exhibit, which is open daily until Feb 20, showcases over 30 watercolour works and one tapestry piece (measuring 1.5m x 3m).

Trekking and discoveries

Yamada embarked on this project after participating in the Herb Trekking – Meandering Through Lata Jarum Forest art camp at Ulu Dong, Raub in Pahang in 2020, organised by the National Art Gallery. Artist Mohamad Ismadi, who lives in Pahang, guided the participants through the jungle, and introduced them to the local herbs used by Orang Asli communities in the Lata Jarum area.

“We crossed a river, went into the jungle, took photos of herbs and made some sketches. We also visited Art Garden Madi and looked at the different plants around the area. We saw so many herbs but we seem to have few comprehensive books on this subject. It inspired me to continue making sketches of the plants I saw on this trip and also other plants I see all around me every day.

“Some even grow wild in my pots. In the past, I treated them as weeds and would pull them out. But now I know some of them are medicinal herbs, like dukung anak (Phyllanthus niruri),” she says.

Yamada’s fascination with plants and herbs knows no bounds. She intends to continue studying and growing them in her garden, both for her own consumption and as a hobbyist pursuit.

But even as she relishes being in nature, she notes that more effort should be made to protect our natural world.

“I always feel sad when I study Malaysia’s beautiful nature, because there is so much deforestation and many precious species are disappearing. The area where I live is also becoming less and less green.

“I want to appreciate what we still have and I hope more people will realise that our place is beautiful and fantastic, and that we should preserve nature,” she says.

Yamada hopes that her exhibition connects people who are interested in Malaysian herbs.

“I can only paint herbs, but if there is a researcher or botanist from Japan who is interested in Malaysian herbs, I would like to introduce them to some herb specialists I have met here. Perhaps they can learn from each other and write a book!” she concludes.

Besides the artworks, there will be a selection of live herbs on display at the venue during the exhibition.

Herba - Culinary And Medicinal Herbs Nurtured By The Land Of Malaysia is on at Level 3-3, GMBB, 2 Jalan Robertson, Kuala Lumpur until Feb 20 (11am to 5pm daily). There will be a series of planter's workshops at the venue on Feb 17 and 20. Email: [e-mail].