The Forest Learning Centre (FLC) at Perdana Botanical Gardens in Kuala Lumpur has opened an exhibition titled *Botany Of Belonging: Forests of South-East Asia*, showcasing botanical illustrations that highlight the region’s diverse forest flora. The exhibition, which began last weekend, will run until November 30, with free admission on Fridays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Organized with support from Forest House Conservation, the exhibition features prints from 45 botanical artists hailing from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, and Japan. Among the Malaysian contributors are Esther Geh, Naylisa Asmadi, Paridah Mokhsin, Richard Sebastian, Syarifah Nadhirah, and Sharmini Markandu.

FLC manager and exhibition curator Siti Syuhada Sapno, who has a background in ecology and biodiversity, views botanical art as a vital tool for conservation awareness. “Big science words and subject matter can be intimidating for the general public,” she said in a recent interview. “But through exhibitions like this, we see crowds from different backgrounds come through, usually curious, and we get to introduce them to many wonders of forest species.”

The exhibition also offers workshops, journalling tours, and other interactive activities aimed at deepening visitors’ knowledge of regional forests and plant species. Since its establishment in July 2024, the FLC has been developing programmes that engage both scientific and artistic communities.

Botanical illustration requires both artistic skill and scientific precision, according to Syuhada. Artists often gather plant specimens directly from forests or gardens and may spend weeks meticulously capturing details such as leaf veins or subtle variations in petal coloration. These nuances help distinguish one species from another and often involve collaboration with botanists to ensure accuracy.

Among the featured artists, Syarifah Nadhirah’s work connects art with ethnobotanical knowledge. Nadhirah, who holds a Master’s in Anthropology of Environment and Sustainability from SOAS, University of London, published an illustrated book in 2020 documenting edible plants informed by the traditional knowledge of the Orang Asli Semai and Temuan communities. She also served as the first creative director of Forest House Conservation.

Richard Sebastian, another contributing artist, is a self-taught sketch artist specializing in hyperrealistic pencil drawings of plants. Syuhada noted that while botanical illustrations require accuracy, individual artistic styles vary widely.

The exhibition also highlights contributions from self-taught artists like Paridah Mokhsin, a regular visitor to Perdana Botanical Gardens who sketches local flora, including trees affected by recent storms. Her work exemplifies how amateur artists can contribute valuable documentation of native plant life.

With Southeast Asia’s tropical ecosystems facing ongoing environmental pressures, *Botany Of Belonging* emphasizes the importance of documenting and preserving regional plant species. By blending art and science, the exhibition aims to foster greater public interest in forest biodiversity and conservation efforts across the region.