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.
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Sanae Yamada's Herba exhibit
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
Sanae Yamada has a variety of plants in her garden, including this butterfly pea plant with its vivid flowers. -Photo: Sanae Yamada
Sanae Yamada's watercolour painting of bunga kantan. Photo: Sanae Yamada
Sanae Yamada features the dukung anak in her exhibition 'Herba - Culinary And Medicinal Herbs Nurtured By The Land Of Malaysia' at GMBB in KL. Photo: Sanae Yamada
The ekor anjing is among the medicinal herbs featured in Sanae Yamada's solo art show at GMBB. Photo: Sanae Yamada
The 'Herba' exhibition showcases over 30 watercolour works and one tapestry piece (measuring 1.5m x 3m). Photo: Sanae Yamada
